Srinagar, Jul 12 (KNO): In Jammu and Kashmir, majority of the government and private schools ‘have either no idea of New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 or are reluctant to shift from conventional teaching methods to the new pedagogical processes.
According to the news agency-Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Joint Director, School Education South Kashmir said, “As per the feedback from monitoring teams during their academic and administrative inspections of government and government recognized private schools most of the institutions have been found to have either no idea of NEP-2020 or are reluctant to shift from the traditional and conventional teaching methods to the new pedagogical processes suggested in the new policy.”
The officer in a circular said that some schools were still having the habit of giving homework to the tender souls and consume most of their time in mechanization of things which consequently give stress to the children, their parents and teachers as well.
“The theme based learning concepts is still a dream in most of the schools which need to be understood and implemented in all institutions with pre- primary and primary sections,” it reads.
It further states that some interventions were needed to be carried out in all schools and the interventions shall be followed by the concerned staff members in letter and spirit. “The overall onus of implementation shall lie on school Hols and administrators.”
According to the Joint Director, “For Elementary classes, there is an opportunity to develop learning levels of children at a stage when it matters, students must be taught in a manner to ensure growth of a child, his participation in activities to develop communication and socio emotional skills in them with proper institutional academic planning and active pedagogy involving school based assessment.”
“Multi-grade teaching is needed in schools which must be carried out for pre nursery and primary classes wherever needed by conducting the theme based learning,” it reads.
The officer in a communique further said that the schools should have proper academic plans, mentioning topics with timelines besides remediation plan prepared by complex heads or by school itself.
He also said that the NEP 2020 being a visionary policy and its implementation has started from April-01-2020. “UT and needs to be implemented in all schools and shall be monitored by monitoring committees at Zonal and district level.”
“Any institution found violating the policy shall be penalised,” it reads.
The circular further states that the teaching at pre-primary level should strictly follow the modus operandi of Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) with due care for CWSN children.
“FLN activities under NIPUN BHARAT should be special focus in the early primary classes,” reads the circular.
It also states that the ‘Health and wellbeing’ of children as suggested in new policy for pre-primary and primary students is mandatory.
The joint director accordingly directed all schools including private ones to shift fully to new policy and capacitate its teachers about all the components of NEP 2020, whether that is about the joyful learning, holistic development of a child or about the 21st century skills including literacy, learning and the humanistic skills.
“The schools found to have not shifted to new education policy shall face disciplinary action,” it reads-(KNO)