National Webinar on New Education Policy 2020 at St Aloysius B Ed College
Mangaluru: St Aloysius Institute of Education, a leading college of teacher education of the city organized a national webinar via YouTube platform on the topics, namely, ‘Implications on Teacher Education and School Education’ and ‘Paradigm shift in Teacher Education’, in relation to the perspectives of New Education Policy 2020 which has recently been released by the Government of India.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Implications on Teacher Education and School Education’, Dr Adelaide Vaz (former principal, St Xavier’s College of Education, Mumbai) said, NEP 2020 is the first education policy of 21st century in India. It envisions an education system en-rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society. In this regard it aims at providing high quality education to all children and thereby making India a global knowledge superpower. The fundamental principles of the NEP 2020 insist on recognizing, identifying and fostering the unique capabilities of each student and promoting their creativity, critical thinking, ethics, and power of language, teamwork and constitutional values. In this regard the teacher education programme will require multi-disciplinary perspectives and knowledge, formation of disposition and values.
Teachers will have to be grounded in Indian values, languages, ethos including tribal traditions. The speaker also said that the NEP 2020 emphasizes teacher education to be in composite multi-disciplinary institutions which will collaborate with other departments such as psychology, philosophy, sociology, art, music, literature, science and mathematics. Adding further to the details the speaker informed that all stand-alone teacher education institutions in the country will be required to convert to multi-disciplinary institutions by 2030, since they will have to offer a four year integrated programme.
The second speaker of the webinar Dr Flossy D’Souza (Associate Prof. St Ann’s College of Education, Mangaluru) spoke on ‘Paradigm shift in Teacher Education’. She said, NEP 2020 is a forward looking and student friendly policy. It introduces a plethora of reforms at all stages starting from early childhood education to doctoral studies. Quality of teacher education is the priority and the spotlight in the policy. It insists to ensure teachers are given the highest quality training in content and pedagogy. Therefore, teacher educators must be best mentors in areas such as Indian values, ethos, languages, art, music and advanced pedagogics. To improve the teacher education in order to reach the levels of integrity and credibility it required to restore the prestige teaching profession. Therefore, regulatory system shall be empowered to take stringent actions against sub-standard and dysfunctional teacher education institutions that do not meet the basic criteria as mentioned in the policy.
The four year integrated teacher education programme offered by higher educational institutions will, by 2030, become the minimal degree qualification for school teachers. It will also be a holistic approach as it would cover subjects like language, history, economics, political science, music, art, science and mathematics. To maintain standard for teacher education, the admission to pre-service teacher preparation shall be done through aptitude tests conducted by the national testing agency. The technology platforms such as swayam and diksha for online training of teachers shall be encouraged to standardize teacher training programmes. The speaker also informed that as teachers will require high quality training in content and pedagogy teacher education institutions will gradually convert into multi-disciplinary colleges and universities by 2030.
Fr Dr Praveen Martis SJ, Director-SAIE opened the webinar. Dr Farita Viegas, Principal-SAIE rendered the welcome address. Mrs Delna Lobo (vice principal) and Mrs Joshna B, (biology method), introduced the speakers to the online virtual audience. Santhosh Furtado, moderator, facilitated interaction between the participants and resource persons. Mrs Sarika Rodrigues, (English method), delivered the vote of thanks. Mrs Sandhya, webinar in-charge anchored the sessions.
Report by: Jerome D’Souza, Faculty, St Aloysius B Ed College