Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan has stressed on the need to break the walls of compartmentalisation to ensure that the educational institutions function more responsibly and efficiently.

He was addressing a day-long colloquium held online on the ‘Implementation of New National Educational Policy (NEP) 2020 — Challenges and Opportunities,’ organised by JSS Mahavidyapeetha, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research and JSS Science & Technology, Mysuru, here recently.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the NEP will provide more opportunities for collaborations among leading educational institutions. 

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar, who presided over the colloquium, said the State Government is taking all steps to implement the NEP first among all other States.

Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, who graced the occasion, said after 34 years, the country has seen a new National Educational Policy. There is an increased thrust given to provide autonomy to institutions so that they will have more responsibility. Preparation is very much essential to run the institution efficiently.

Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Executive Secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, briefed about the NEP and its implementation.

Prof. M.K. Sridhar, Member, National Education Policy Drafting Committee and Member, University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, in his keynote address said that this is the third educational policy which can bring major improvements in the overall education system of the country.

 He said under the new policy, different streams of education like Science, Commerce, Arts and also phases of education like primary, secondary, degree and even various branches of professional courses like engineering, will be brought under one domain. This will also facilitate the multi-disciplinary higher education system and simplified University education system. Opinion and suggestions of 15 lakh teachers and education experts have been obtained and after deliberating the same for five years, the same is being implemented, he said.

Prof. Gopalkrishna Joshi, Executive Director, Karnataka State Higher Education Council, stressed the need for multi-disciplinary research and spelt the concept of research faculty to facilitate such research. He also emphasised on providing the education in regional language.

In the afternoon session, Prof. M.H. Dhananjaya, Technical Advisor, spoke about the proposal.

 B.A. Rajashekar, Prof. Morabada Mallikarjuna, R. Mahesh, Dr. C. Ranganathaiah, all Directors; Dr. Surinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor and Dr. B.Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, spoke about implementing the same across the various divisions of JSS Mahavidyapeetha.  Later Question and Answer session from participants was also held.  It was decided that in order to implement the same, a Committee may be formed to examine the details and provide guidance. 

Dr. B. Manjunatha, Dr. S.A. Dhanaraj, Prof. K.S. Suresh, Dr. Sudheendra Bhat compered the four sessions.  Roopa and Vinuta of JSS Fine Arts College rendered the invocation.