Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A two-day national seminar organized by State Council of Educational Research and Training, Goa (SCERT) on ‘New State Curriculum Frameworks (SCF’s) as the basis for transforming school education’ was inaugurated today at the Durbal Hall, Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula.
Present on the occasion were Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Shri Anandrao Patil, Secretary, Education, Government of Goa, Shri Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Director, National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Vice Chancellor, NIEPA, Prof. Shashikala Wanjari, Director of Education, Shri Shailesh Zingde, Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training, Goa, Smt. Meghana Shetgaonkar among others.
While speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Shri Anandrao Patil spoke on how providing access to quality education to the last student, remains a challenge which they are working to overcome. He further spoke of how there is digital divide and the steps being taken to overcome it. He stressed the need for teachers to be trained to use technology in teaching.
He also spoke of implementation of Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID system, designed to facilitate targeted interventions, improve school enrollments, and seamlessly manage academic records for all students.
Secretary, Education, Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, highlighted the steps taken by the state Government in implementing National Education Policy (NEP). He said that they had constituted two task forces, one for school education and one for higher education, and committees for implementation of specific tasks. He maintained that the state is in a transition phase in implementing NEP and they will surely be issues which will be addressed.
The focus is on quality education, affordability, access and equity in education keeping the true spirit of NEP in mind. NEP for children with special needs will be implemented from next academic year, he added.
Director, NCERT, New Delhi, Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, said that the NEP is a transformative policy aimed at developing the holistic development of a child. He stressed on the importance of the foundation stage in the implementation of NEP calling it a crucial stage and said that community participation is very important for its success.
“There will be teething problems but solutions come through coordination. We can learn immensely from India’s traditional knowledge system and Goa can become a role model for the rest of India, and NCERT, will help with the hand-holding,” he reiterated.
Earlier, Director, State Council of Educational Research and Training, Goa, Smt. Meghana Shetgaonkar in her welcome address said the seminar was a significant step in aligning the State Curriculum Framework in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. She said that the seminar will bring the brightest minds in education together and help equip students with holistic and practical education.
The two-day seminar is expected to serve as a crucial platform for discussing and refining the development of State Curriculum Framework in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and will bring together esteemed educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to share insights and strategies that will shape the future of school education across the nation.
