COVID-19 affected NEP implementation: UGC Chairman

Ministry of Education announced the new National Education Policy in July 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the normal day to activity for the past one and half years impacted the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Dhirendra Pal Singh who is about to complete his tenure said that if the situation in the country had been normal, NEP would have been implemented at a faster pace.

The Central government announced the new education policy on July 29, 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Singh said that due to the lockdown, academicians got a lot of time to discuss the new policy.

The education ministry has initiated the process for the search for the new chairman of the apex higher education regulatory body. Talking to reporters, UGC Chairman said that the Centre has been interacting with the state governments and vice-chancellors of universities, and efforts are on to constitute regulatory mechanisms at different levels for proper implementation of NEP 2020.

Prof Singh said that the timing to announce the new policy was right, however, the pandemic has affected its implementation. He said: “If the situation had been normal, then it would have been implemented at a faster pace.”

Highlighting about the advantages of NEP, Singh said that it is a unique amalgamation of the ancient cultural values and the modern knowledge and science which will not only connect students with their cultural roots, but will also inspire them to become the world's best citizens.

Read More:

• University of British Columbia Provost appointed SNU Vice-Chancellor
• 11 IITGN PhD scholars selected for Prime Minister’s Research Fellows Scheme 
• 16 JMI researchers among top 2% scientists in Stanford University list