Education should have less content & more critical thinking: NCMEI Chairman

June 3, 2023 36 Views No Comment

KOHIMA, JUNE 3 (MExN): Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Justice Narendra Kumar today stated that education in the present age must move towards less content, and more towards learning how to think critically and solve problems; how to be creative and multidisciplinary; and how to innovate, adapt, and absorb new material in novel and changing fields.

He said this during a meeting with the stakeholders of minority educational institutions and other minority communities in Kohima at DPDB hall Kohima on June 2.

He briefed on the issues faced by minorities in the educational sector and responded to queries. He highlighted the policies of the government relating to minorities’ education and mentioned that children should not only learn but more importantly learn how to learn.

He stressed on the New Educational Policy 2023 stating that it is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society, and promoting national development. Providing universal access to quality education is the key to India’s continued ascent, and leadership on the global stage in terms of economic growth, social justice and equality, scientific advancement, national integration, and cultural preservation, Justice Kumar said. Universal high-quality education is the best way forward for developing and maximizing our country’s rich talents and resources for the good of the individual, the society, the country, and the world, he added.

He mentioned that the global education development agenda reflected in Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by India in 2015 – seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

He said that the world is undergoing rapid changes in the knowledge landscape. With various scientific and technological advances, such as the rise of big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, many unskilled jobs worldwide may be taken over by machines, while the need for a skilled workforce, particularly involving mathematics, computer science, and data science, in conjunction with multidisciplinary abilities across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, will be increasingly in greater demand.

This NEP is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of the country, Justice Kumar said. He informed that this policy proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st-century education, including SDG4 while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

He also highlighted Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India stating that it provides for linguistic and religious minorities a fundamental right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The NCMEI Act has been enacted to safeguard the educational rights of the minorities enshrined in Article 30(1) of the Constitution. It also serves as an appellate authority in respect of disputes on Minority Status/ No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Educational institutions aggrieved by the order of refusal to grant a Minority Status Certificate/No Objection Certificate by the competent authority of State/UT can appeal to the Commission against such orders. The Commission has the power to cancel the minority status of an educational institution granted by an Authority or Commission, on grounds laid down in the Act, he added.

He meanwhile mentioned that the term ‘minority’ is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognizes religious and linguistic minorities. The Central Government has notified six religious minority communities viz. Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, and Jain. Minority Educational Institutions can approach NCMEI for obtaining Minority Status Certificate (MSC) to appeal against State authorities on being aggrieved by the order of rejection of NOC application by the State/UT (Section 12A) or refusal to grant a minority status certificate (Section 12 B) and resolving disputes regarding affiliation/deprivation and violation of rights of minorities to establish and administer the institutions of their choice.