University of Jammu Hosts Consultative Meet on Transforming Teacher Education in Light of NEP 2020

Jammu, October 28: A high-level consultative meet on “Transforming Teacher Education through Curriculum and Pedagogical Innovation: Reimagining NEP 2020 in the Context of Jammu and Kashmir” was organised at the University of Jammu on Wednesday, bringing together academicians, policymakers and education experts to deliberate on curriculum reforms, innovative teaching practices and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 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, at the Committee Room of the Vice-Chancellor's Secretariat.

The deliberations aimed at developing a practical and actionable roadmap for aligning the objectives of NEP 2020 with the educational needs and regional requirements of Jammu and Kashmir. The consultation witnessed participation from distinguished academicians, policymakers, senior university professors, academic leaders, faculty members from various departments of the University, research scholars and postgraduate students.

Speaking during the consultation, Prof. Mohammad Miyan, former Vice-Chancellor, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), emphasised the need to restructure the existing education system, particularly at the school level, to meet emerging educational requirements. He underlined the importance of involving the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a key stakeholder in framing the teacher education curriculum. Prof. Miyan maintained that quality must remain at the centre of every teacher education programme and that reforms should focus on strengthening the overall teaching-learning process.

Prof. Lokesh Verma, former Professor, University of Jammu, highlighted the transformative potential of NEP 2020 in reshaping teacher education through multidisciplinary learning, academic flexibility and curricular reforms. He discussed various provisions of the policy, including the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP), multiple entry and exit options and the Design Your Degree (DYD) initiative. Prof. Verma emphasised the need to adapt these reforms to the educational realities and regional requirements of Jammu and Kashmir, while ensuring that curriculum and pedagogical innovations translate into meaningful improvements in teacher preparation.

The interactive discussion, moderated by Dr. Kajal Devi Manhas, Faculty, P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu, focused on practical approaches and an operational framework for transforming teacher education in accordance with NEP 2020. Participants exchanged views on curriculum restructuring, innovative pedagogical practices, multidisciplinary education and institutional preparedness. The deliberations centred on identifying workable strategies, practical solutions and realistic recommendations that could contribute to the effective implementation of the policy in the region.

Earlier, welcoming the participants, Dr. Kajal Kalsi, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, and Co-Convener, CESI, RIG-13, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, for the continued support extended to academic initiatives organised by CESI. She highlighted the importance of teacher education in the context of NEP 2020 and stressed the need for meaningful academic discussions to address emerging challenges in the education sector. She also introduced Prof. Mohammad Miyan 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.

In her concluding remarks, Prof. (Dr.) Renu Nanda, Dean, Faculty of Education, Head, Department of Education, University of Jammu, and Convener, CESI, RIG-13, summed up the deliberations of the consultative meet.

Dr. Sushanta Kumar Panda, Faculty, P.G. Department of Education, University of Jammu, proposed the formal vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, experts and participants 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.