JAC to meet NEHU VC tomorrow

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 15: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NEHUTA, NEHUNSA and NEHUSU has agreed to meet the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof PS Shukla tomorrow to discuss its nine-point charter of demands.

The indefinite strike called by the JAC, which entered its third day, has disrupted the functioning of the NEHU administration and academic activities.

“The JAC will meet the VC tomorrow in the conference hall,” JAC chairman Prof Lakhon Kma informed today.

“There will also be a JAC general assembly outside the VC’s office after the meeting to share the outcome of the meeting with the members and to accordingly decide the future course of action,” he said.

Prof Kma also announced that the strike will continue tomorrow till further decision is taken.

The nine points of demands related to immediate removal of illegally appointed technical officer/senior consultant, immediate appointment of Statutory Officers and University Engineer, deteriorating condition of the University Health Centre, relieving of teaching and technical staffs from ministerial duties, re-upload of NEHU Act, Statutes and Ordinance in the NEHU official website, holding of regular convocation, marking system, inclusion of elected members of NEHUSU as representative in the Academic Council and review of Educationally Backward Area Quota from Block Level to Village Level.

NEHUTA agrees to NEP implementation from 2023-24 session

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Oct 26: The NEHU Teachers Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya College Teachers Association (MCTA) have agreed to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the academic session of 2023-2024.

This announcement was made by NEHUTA president Prof. Lakhon Kma after the emergent meeting of the NEHU Academic Council (AC) which wascalled by NEHU Vice Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla after continuous demand by the MCTA and NEHUTA.

Speaking to media persons after the emergent meeting, Prof. Lakhon Kma said that the meeting was a success as the VC had agreed on his flaws to issue a notification on July 12 to all Principals of colleges to implement NEP from August 1 without the approval of the academic council.

Prof. Kma said that in the meeting the VC had agreed that the academic council is more supreme than the executive council of the VC when it comes to decisions related to academic policy matters of the university.

“We are happy with the outcome of the meeting and we have agreed to go ahead with the implementation of the NEP from the academic session 2023-2024 and this decision overrides the notification of the VC after the 110th meeting of the AC who had single-handedly tried to force the implementation of the NEP without the approval of the AC” said Prof. Kma.

On the decision to agree to the implementation of NEP from 2023-2024, Prof. Kma said that this decision was taken after good sense had prevailed to the VC who had regrets with his previous decision to override AC and also by taking into account the interest of the students and the colleges.

Prof. Kma claimed that good sense might have prevailed unto the VC after the university received direction from the President of India and the Governor of Meghalaya as the NEHUTA and MCTA had continuously written to this highest authority on the attitude of the VC.

Prof. Kma said that in the emergent meeting, a decision was also taken to convene an official meeting of the Academic Council of the university on October 31 and in this meeting, a deliberation on how to go ahead with the NEP will be discussed.

“Normally the examination of the first semesters would be held in the month of November but since for the last three month many teachers have boycotted the classes hence there is a need to extend the session to allow the AC to discuss and set the question paper according to the NEP” he added.

Rollback will severely affect students: Jemino

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sep 17: United Democratic Party (UDP) general secretary and former Nongthymmai legislator Jemino Mawthoh has opined that rolling back the decision to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) will have serious ramifications for the students’ community of the state.

“Reverting or roll back of decision will have serious ramifications for the student community. Let us put the interest of the students first,” Mawthoh said in a statement issued today.

This came in the wake of the demand made by the North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) to roll back decision to implement the NEP.

“With the State Education Commission in place, we can articulate the problems and concerns shared by all institutions and stakeholders and then move forward,” he said.

Stating that almost all colleges have gone ahead with the implementation of the NEP, Mawthoh said, “Principal’s council have agreed upon the implementation. No colleges have sought for deferment of implementation.”

“I share the concerns of other stakeholders and teachers organisation as they are genuine but we need to iron out the difficulties faced by institutions,” he said while adding “In a transition there will be problems, but we need to take up the challenges head on. We cannot afford to lag behind.”

Further, Mawthoh said that considering the dismal performance in the education sector, “we need to take this opportunity to capitalize from crisis into opportunity”.

He said the State has not been able to implement Choice Based Credit System at the undergraduate level since 2016 adding “And, therefore, we have less major papers as compared to other institutions in the country.”

“Students seeking admission in other states finds difficulty due to this and also difficulty in appearing for CUET and other competitive exams. Therefore, undergraduate needs reforms,” the former legislator said.

“If we have to build a house, we should not wait for the roads, electricity, water connection to come first. We build the house and simultaneously push for the road, water, electricity..this is always the case of Meghalaya,” he added.

AIM against gambling in melas

The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.

Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.

Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.