In a bid for all-round development of students in the State, the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will be implemented across all state and private universities starting with the academic session 2024-25. Addressing the media at the New Circuit House in the State Capital on Wednesday, Prasanna R, Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Government of Chhattisgarh, announced that with the exception of two universities, the NEP-2020 would be adopted by all state and private universities. The policy will be implemented at Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University Bilaspur in January 2025, and at Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh from the academic session 2025-26.

 

The NEP-2020 will be rolled out in three phases in the state. The first phase begins with the academic session 2024-25, the second phase in 2025-26, and the third phase in 2026-27. Comprehensive preparations have been made for its implementation in the universities. The policy will initially be introduced at the undergraduate level in courses such as BA, BSc, BSc (Home Science), B Com, BCA and BBA starting from the academic session 2024-25, according to the Higher Education Department Secretary. Six committees have been formed by the Higher Education Department to strategise the policy’s implementation. According to the NEP-2020 draft, the undergraduate degree can span 3 or 4 years with multiple entry and exit options, offering a certificate after 1 year, a diploma after 2 years, and the degree itself to be completed within a maximum of seven years.

 

The policy also stipulates a 30 per cent weightage for internal assessment and 70 per cent for semester exams, Prasanna R explained. Additionally, the NEP-2020 includes provisions for internships and entrepreneurship courses, with students able to utilise online platforms such as SWAYAM/MOOC for various courses. The overarching goal of NEP-2020 is to facilitate the holistic development of students, create self-employment opportunities through the study of generic elective subjects, and promote value-oriented education, skill development, and capacity building. It aims to prepare students for critical thinking, digital literacy, and physical growth, and to integrate students from forest and remote areas into the mainstream educational framework, he added. The press conference was also attended by Commissioner of the Higher Education Department Sharda Verma, Dr Ghanshyam, and other officials.