SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Oct 20: Ranchi University on Thursday organised a one-day workshop on the National Education Policy 2020 for the principals of all colleges under the university. The main objective behind this was to familiarise the college administration with the changes to be expected from the new session that will soon begin this year.
Ranchi University Vice Chancellor Ajit Kumar Sinha on the occasion invited all educators to be open to the idea of change for the betterment of the education system.
Dean, Student Welfare Dr Raj Kumar Sharma on the occasion explained the major aspects of the NEP that will be new for the education system. These included multidisciplinary, multiple entry and exit, academic bank of credit, Indian knowledge system and vocational course management.
The Dean said, “The concept of faculty will be ended under Multidisciplinary. Subjects under all faculties will be available to students. For instance, zoology, and economics, among other subjects will be made open. This means that students from all kinds of streams will be able to choose subjects as per their need and requirement.”
He further said that the course will be of four years, i.e. eight semesters. Each semester will be of 22 credits. A student will be able to change institutions after two semesters. If they choose to change institutions, they will be provided with a certificate of bachelor’s degree after two semesters, a diploma degree after four semesters, and a bachelor’s degree after six semesters. Meanwhile, after completion of all eight semesters, a student will get a degree of bachelor with honours/research.
Talking of the academic bank of credit, the DSW said, under a multiple entry and exit system, after two semesters if a student changes college or university, he will have a total of 44 credits, which he will not have to earn again by repeating the first year.
“The credits will be monitored and stored through a website www.abc.gov.in, wherein students and teachers will be able to monitor the total credits of a said student. While changing institutions, if they have similar syllabi up to 70 percent, the student will be able to take admitted to the new institute and retain the credits. As a result, the student will join the course in the new university from the second year,” said Dean Sharma.
Explaining the Indian knowledge system, the dean said subjects that represent the Indian culture have been added to the syllabi under NEP. These subjects include yoga, Understanding India, and Global Citizenship Education among others, which will be compulsory for all.
Courses include common courses, which will be mandatory to all and will entail subjects including language, yoga, Understanding India, Thinking Skills and Mathematical Analysis. Introductory courses will include subjects that were under generic electives earlier. A student will choose three subjects that will be taught in semesters 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Major courses will be the main paper or one subject which will be the subject of bachelor, while vocational courses, which will be compulsory for all students, will help students develop or work on their respective skills. The vocational courses may include subjects such as fisheries, tailoring, and even forestry.
Explaining the vocational course management, Dr Sharma said, “Colleges will get to choose vocational subjects to provide to students as per the facilities available to them. This means that colleges that have forests around may include forestry, while colleges with lakes around them may introduce fisheries as a vocational subject.”
He further suggested that a limit of 500 students per course be set for each semester, as there are a total of 16 vocational courses initially.
Furthermore, Dr Neeraj, from the Chemistry department explained the curriculum framework, while Dr Raj Kumar Singh, Physics department explained the examination and marking system.
