Goa: Policy to focus on quality education

[Harold Schiffman]

Policy to focus on quality education
11 Aug 2008, 0538 hrs IST, Gauree Malkarnekar,TNN




PANAJI: The Goa State Integrated Education Policy 2008, expected to be
implemented by August-end, provides for formation of a network among
educational institutions and bodies in the state for the promotion of
quality education.
The policy proposes that stress should be laid on universal access to
quality education.

This would be done by reviewing teachers' training and orientation
programmes and providing every teacher given an opportunity to undergo
the in-service training atleast once in five years. The methodology of
teaching and evaluating language skills, especially in the English
language, will be reviewed periodically with the aim of achieving
effective communication and writing skills in students. 'Work
education' will be implemented from class five to reinforce 'life
skills' and orientation of teachers will be undertaken for the
purpose.

The school students will be able to choose subjects based on the
stream they wish to pursue right from standard ninth. The grant-in-aid
pattern for school infrastructure alongwith various fees to be
collected will be revised and enhanced periodically. Computer aided
learning at all levels will be introduced.

Alongwith sports and games (national and international), stress will
also be laid on yoga, meditation and traditional games. Children with
special needs will be provided with educational opportunities in
regular schools. Teachers, particularly at the pre-primary and primary
level will be sensitised to the needs special children.

A state level certification board will also be constituted to certify
skills acquired by individuals with the help of private institutes or
through their own efforts. The policy aims at making the Goa
university the hub of research. Institutions of higher learning in Goa
will be chosen and supported to obtain academic autonomy by applying
for the status of Deemed university under the University Grant
Commission. This will give the institutes freedom to design their own
courses as well as issue degrees. This is expected to reduce the
burden on affiliating university and providing it freedom to
concentrate on postgraduate studies and research.

The government will also encourage institutions to acquire 'rich
collections of books housed in private residencies' so that the
collections can be 'used by a larger number of people'. An efficient
and cost-effective network will be designed for inter-institutional
collaboration supported by the government to share the educational
material, equipment and facilities available with some institutions.

Incentives based on performance and productivity will be introduced
for institutions as well as individuals. The government will mediate
between the All India Council for Technical Education and state
institutions to promote institutional autonomy and academic
flexibility.

The Goa university will be the apex body for monitoring syllabi
contents and inter relationships between various technical courses.
The directorate of technical education will help in implementing the
same. The government will support networking of libraries, course
materials among state technical education institutions to will
generate equal and vast access to information.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Policy_to_focus_on_quality_education/articleshow/3350171.cms

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