The two-day Education Conclave 2026, held under the theme “Implementation of NEP 2020: Vision, Challenges and Opportunities for the North Eastern States”, at Chümoukedima concluded on Saturday
-1789837934838.webp&w=1200&q=75)
DIMAPUR — The two-day Education Conclave 2026, held under the theme “Implementation of NEP 2020: Vision, Challenges and Opportunities for the North Eastern States”, at JP Parks and Banquets, Naga United Village, Chümoukedima concluded on Saturday with discussions on strengthening NEP 2020 implementation across the region.
Following the two-day Education Conclave, the School Education, Higher Education and Technical Education departments of the seven Northeastern states will jointly submit the resolutions and recommendations emerging from the conclave to the Ministry of Education.
The proposed resolutions and way forward under School Education include shifting from compliance-based to outcome-based monitoring; institutionalising continuous professional development for teachers; extending professional development across all school categories; strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) and learning-recovery mechanisms; developing structured multilingual transition strategies; documenting and sharing contextualised learning resources and others.
Under Higher Education, key outcomes and resolutions include upgrading infrastructure through the establishment of Skill Hubs in parent institutions; promoting vertical mobility and academic progression; establishing North-East Knowledge System/Indigenous Knowledge institutions; setting up State Public Universities; conducting annual education review meetings and conclaves; and providing a special financial package for NEP 2020 implementation.
Also read: Northeast states to put NEP implementation gaps before Centre
For Technical Education, the resolutions focus on addressing gaps in NEP 2020 with regard to technical education, improving resource utilisation, and identifying region-specific challenges in the Northeast along with probable solutions.
Sarita Yadav, Secretary Higher & Technical Education, Government of Nagaland, said at a press conference the conclave saw participation from all Northeastern states, along with MLAs, ministers and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education. A total of 748 people attended the conclave, including representatives from 32 schools and 16 technical colleges.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, the Minister of Higher Education, Panchayats and General Administration, government of Tripura, Kishor Barman called for a stronger focus on skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and research to prepare students in the Northeast for the future.
WATCH MORE:
He added that success of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 would ultimately depend on its implementation and its impact on students, particularly those in remote areas.
He said education should go beyond degrees and prepare students to become problem-solvers, innovators, entrepreneurs and responsible citizens. He stressed the need to strengthen internships, apprenticeships, skill courses, incubation centres and career counselling in colleges and universities.
Barman highlighted Northeast's potential in areas such as bamboo, agriculture, tourism, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, saying that education should connect these sectors with technology to create opportunities for employment, research and entrepreneurship.
He also called for greater cooperation among Northeastern states through student mobility, joint research, shared infrastructure, faculty networks and common digital platforms.
The minister identified five priorities for the region which includes access, quality, skills, research and innovation, and entrepreneurship and encourages professionals and students who gain experience outside the region to contribute to its development.
He said the Northeast should be viewed as a gateway to Southeast Asia, with potential to emerge as a hub for trade, tourism, education, technology, logistics and cultural exchange.
He urged the gathering to make region an educated Northeast, Skilled Northeast, Innovative Northeast, Entrepreneurial Northeast and a Developed India through a developed Northeast.
Also addressing the gathering, Additional Secretary, Higher and Technical Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, Anandrao V. Patel, said discussions among the Northeastern states on implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 would help address challenges at the grassroots level.
He emphasised the need to move from a degree only approach to degree plus skills, highlighting industry-academia collaboration and apprenticeship programmes to equip students with relevant skills.
Patel said key challenges included preparing for the demographic dividend, addressing climate change, creating a skilled and multidisciplinary workforce, and promoting education based on Indian values.
He urged states to work towards achieving the NEP target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035, while strengthening infrastructure, teacher training and access to higher education.
Patel also mentioned that under NEP 2020, 51% of institutions had adopted the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF), 58% the National Curriculum Framework structure, 56% the four-year undergraduate programme and 69% the Academic Bank of Credits, based on data updated about a month earlier.
Furthermore, he said that 65% of institutions had established Research and Development Cells, while 47% had prepared Institutional Development Plans and 26% had undertaken collaborations with foreign higher education institutions.
He also encouraged institutions in the Northeast to collaborate with industries, IITs and national laboratories to strengthen research and employability.