Itanagar, Sep 19 (Bureau) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday said it would be a big challenge for the state government to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 as it envisages a completely new education system in place of the existing one. However, the state government has already committed itself to implementing the policy in right earnest, “Not only the entire set up of formal education will be replaced but also new infrastructural amenities will have to be constructed. The priority will be on quality education,” he said while inaugurating the new school building of Government Higher Secondary School, Talo in Lower Subansiri district on Tuesday. Responding to a few demands from the school, Khandu assured that “all will be met once the state government starts to roll out the National Education Policy (NEP) as made mandatory by the central government”.
He said that all states have to implement the new education policy in all schools, colleges and universities by 2030. Khandu informed that the state government is focusing on pre-primary level education, which forms the foundation on which the entire career of a child depends. Highlighting the prevailing notion of people preferring private schools over those run by the government for the education of their children, the Chief Minister said the concept has to be changed. “Government schools have the best teachers in terms of training and education. They also get far better salaries than those employed in private schools. But still people prefer private schools. There’s something wrong and we have to right it and reverse the trend,” he said. Talking about quality education in government schools, Khandu hailed the Talo school for producing a good number of educated youths now serving in various government departments. Started as a primary school in 1962, it was upgraded to middle school in 1980 and then to secondary level in 1990. It became a higher secondary school in the year 2009.
The Chief Minister also reiterated that education and health are priority sectors of the government, and both sectors have witnessed several reforms and transformations in the last few years. He complimented the alumni of the school and locals for ensuring quality construction of the new building, and termed their initiative as an example to emulate for others across the state. The alumni of the school and residents of Talo had contributed in cash and kind to add to the fund granted by the state government to complete the new building with all modern amenities, within eight months of the start of work. Later, Khandu inaugurated the RCC bridge over Panyor river that would connect Yazali with Kora Circle villages on the right bank. He also inaugurated the newly established Kora circle administrative center besides laying the foundation for a 12-km road from the bridge point to Taib village. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Education Minister Taba Tedir, Home Minister Bamang Felix, Agriculture Minister Tage Taki, and legislators Biyuram Wahge, Nyamar Karbak, Hayeng Mangfi, Ojing Tasing, Phurpa Tsering and Gokar Basar.