Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The University of Jammu on Wednesday hosted a high-level consultative meet on “Transforming Teacher Education through Curriculum and Pedagogical Innovation: Reimagining NEP 2020 in the Context of Jammu and Kashmir,” bringing together distinguished academicians, policymakers, education experts and academic stakeholders to deliberate on the transformation of teacher education through curriculum restructuring, pedagogical innovation and the effective implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The consultative meet was organised by the Comparative Education Society of India (CESI), Research Interest Group (RIG)-13 (Comparative Education), in collaboration with the P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu. The programme was held in the Committee Room of the Vice-Chancellor’s Secretariat at the University of Jammu.
The primary objective of the consultation was to deliberate on and formulate a practical, actionable and region-specific roadmap for aligning the broader objectives of NEP 2020 with the educational needs, institutional realities and regional requirements of Jammu and Kashmir. The meet witnessed the participation of distinguished academicians, policymakers, senior university professors, academic leaders, faculty members from various departments of the University, research scholars and postgraduate students, facilitating an exchange of perspectives on the emerging priorities and challenges in teacher education.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Mohammad Miyan, former Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), emphasised the imperative of restructuring the existing education system, particularly at the school level, to respond effectively to evolving educational requirements. He underscored the importance of involving the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a key stakeholder in the formulation of the teacher education curriculum. Highlighting the centrality of quality in educational reforms, Prof. Miyan maintained that quality must remain the foremost consideration in every teacher education programme and that reform initiatives should primarily focus on strengthening and improving the overall teaching-learning process.
Prof. Lokesh Verma, former Professor at the University of Jammu, highlighted the transformative potential of NEP 2020 in reshaping teacher education through multidisciplinary learning, greater academic flexibility and comprehensive curricular reforms. Elaborating on various provisions of the policy, he discussed the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP), multiple entry and exit options, and the Design Your Degree (DYD) initiative. He emphasised the need to contextualise and adapt these reforms to the educational realities and specific regional requirements of Jammu and Kashmir. He further stressed that curriculum restructuring and pedagogical innovations must translate into tangible and meaningful improvements in teacher preparation and professional competence.
The interactive deliberations, moderated by Dr. Kajal Devi Manhas, Faculty Member, P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu, focused on identifying practical approaches and developing an operational framework for transforming teacher education in alignment with the objectives of NEP 2020. Participants exchanged views on curriculum restructuring, innovative pedagogical practices, multidisciplinary education and institutional preparedness for implementing the proposed reforms.
The discussion placed particular emphasis on identifying feasible strategies, practical solutions and realistic recommendations that could facilitate the effective implementation of NEP 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir. The deliberations also highlighted the importance of ensuring that policy objectives are translated into contextually relevant academic practices capable of addressing the region’s educational priorities and institutional requirements.
Earlier, Dr. Kajal Kalsi, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, and Co-Convener, CESI, RIG-13, welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu for the continued support extended to academic initiatives organised by CESI. Highlighting the significance of teacher education in the context of NEP 2020, she emphasised the need for meaningful academic dialogue and collective deliberation to address emerging challenges in the education sector. She also introduced Prof. Mohammad Miyan to the gathering and invited him to lead the deliberations.
The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a prayer rendered by research scholars of the P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu, marking the formal beginning of the academic proceedings.
In her concluding remarks, Prof. (Dr.) Renu Nanda, Dean, Faculty of Education, Head, Department of Education, University of Jammu, and Convener, CESI, RIG-13, summarised the key deliberations of the consultative meet, bringing together the principal themes and perspectives that emerged during the discussions.
Dr. Sushanta Kumar Panda, Faculty Member, P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu, proposed the formal vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the dignitaries, subject experts and participants for their presence, contributions and engagement in the consultative exercise on behalf of the Department.
The proceedings of the consultative meet were conducted by Dr. Ana Bali, Lecturer, P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu.
