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DIMAPUR — Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) under the Ministry of Education, government of India, Justice Narendra Kumar, informed that the New Educational Policy (NEP) 2023 is fundamental for achieving full human potential, develop an equitable and just society, and promoting national development.
Kumar stated this during a meeting with the stakeholders of minority educational institutions and other minority communities on Friday held at DPDB hall in Kohima. Kumar briefed on the issues faced by minorities in the educational sector and also highlighted the policies of the government relating to minorities' education. He mentioned that children should not only learn but more importantly learn how to learn, stated a DIPR report.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]He pointed out that 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.
“Universal high-quality education is the best way forward for developing and maximising our country's rich talents and resources for the good of the individual, the society, the country, and the world,” Kumar said.
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.
With various scientific and technological advances such as the rise of big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, he cautioned that many unskilled jobs worldwide might 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 would increase in greater demand.
He, therefore, stated that education must move towards less content and more towards learning about how to think critically and solve problems, how to be creative and multi-disciplinary, and how to innovate, adapt, and absorb new material in novel and changing fields.
He stated that the National Education Policy 2020 was the first education policy of the 21st century aimed at addressing the many growing developmental imperatives of the country. According to him, the policy proposes 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.
Kumar 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. He added that the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Act was 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).
He informed that educational institutions aggrieved by the order of refusal to grant a minority status certificate/ no objection certificate by the competent authority of state/ UT could appeal to the Commission against such orders. He added that 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.
While pointing out that the term “Minority” was not defined in the Indian Constitution, he however stated that the Constitution recognises religious and linguistic minorities.
He further stated that minority educational institutions couls approach NCMEI for obtaining minority status certificate 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.