Webinar on New Education Policy Organized at BITS Pilani
30 September 2020
The Teaching Learning Centre, BITS Pilani organized a one-day webinar on New Education Policy on Saturday, 26 September 2020. The webinar titled “Naya Kshitij: NEP 2020 for Schools- Implementation Preparedness, Challenges and Way-Forward in Schools of Rajasthan” explored the various aspects of New Education Policy with a particular focus on schools in Rajasthan. The webinar was attended by more than 484 participants from various schools in Rajasthan and other parts of country.
The webinar started with a short introduction to NEP 2020 by Prof. Pushp Lata, Faculty-in-Charge, TLC, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus. Prof. Souvik Bhattacharyya, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani welcomed the Chief Guest, Dr. (Mrs) Pankaj Mittal and online gathering. Dr. (Mrs) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and former Additional Secretary, UGC, New Delhi talked about the shift introduced in the new National Education Policy. In her comprehensive speech, she stressed how the policy is forward-looking, student-centric and gives children the right to education, from the age of 3 to 15. She highlighted how the New Education Policy is both application oriented and learning outcome oriented and gives students the freedom in terms of the choice of courses, multiple entries and exits and encourages the education in mother-tongue in addition to emphasis on vocational training. Dr. Mittal also discussed features such as continuous training to teachers and introduction of flip-classrooms.
Dr. Kashyapi Awasthi, Assistant Professor, Department of School and Non-Formal Education, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration was the Guest of Honour at the event. Drawing on her field experiences, she talked about the concept of school complex, and the role Cluster Leadership that can help in the transformation of schools. The idea of school complex addresses the question of lack of connectedness that many schools face. The formation of school complexes/clusters help in efficient distribution of available resources and better leadership.
The webinar witnessed ten presentations from delegates including school teachers, BITS faculty, and students. The audience were awe struck with the presentations of Harshit and Jyotiraditya and students’ teams for the innovative & affordable technology-driven solutions in the education domain to bring about a tremendous social transformation. The present teachers and educators appreciated the BITS students for inculcating Scientific Temperament among students by providing Active learning modules to schools students by Using Augmented Reality and AI.
The Naya Kshitij: NEP Webinar ended with a Panel discussion in which Sri Krishna Awatar Sharma, Principal, Govt. Sr. Sec. School Sindholiya, (Raj.), Mr. Deepchand Lakhwan, Principal, Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Ghardana Khurd, Buhana (Raj.), and Dr. Vijay Singh Balwada Principal, Jeevani International School, Chirawa (Raj.) participated as panelists. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Sudhir Kumar Barai, Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus. The discussants shared what kind of preparedness they have in their schools, the kind of Implementation Challenges they are facing and Way – Forward in Schools of Rajasthan. Prof. Barai as moderator asked the panelists to share their views on how the BITS Pilani can help in the implementation of New NEP.
The panelists suggested BITS Pilani to take up initiatives and join hands with schools for teacher training in the use of technology, pedagogical techniques, and immersion and counseling of students.
The Webinar ended with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Kumar Sankar Bhattacharya to all the esteemed guests, speakers, and participants.