‘Shikshak Parv’ at Department of Economics
Aligarh : Series of events such as screening of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s speech on ‘National Educational Policy (NEP)-2020, showing of education films and documentaries, felicitation of faculty members, group discussions, speech and poetry contests and expert lectures marked the five-day ‘Shikshak Parv’ (Teachers’ Day) celebrations from September 5 to 10—commemorating the birth anniversary of former President of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan at the Department of Economics, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
MA Student, Tehmeesh Khan won the speech competition with BA students, Mohammad Owais, Mohd Adil Iqubal and Md Shadan Kausar receiving the second, third and consolation prizes respectively in the contest judged by Prof Shehroz Alam Rizvi and Prof Mohd Azam Khan.
BA student, Musharraf won the poetry contest in which Tehmeesh Khan (MA) stood second and Harshit Gupta (BA) finished third. Mohd Adil Iqubal got the consolation prize.
In the special lecture, the Chief Guest, Prof M M Ansari (Advisor, Yes Global Institute, former Central Information Commissioner and University Grants Commission Member) remarked: “The NEP-2020 will usher in sweeping changes and make India, a global knowledge superpower”.
“The new educational policy will strengthen India’s education sector with a holistic approach and focus on science and technology. It will help setting up campuses of foreign universities in India and bring in new e-courses”, he stressed.
Prof Ansari added: “NEP-2020, the first Indian education policy of the 21st Century is nurturing the development of the creative potential of each student with flexibility, no hard separations between subjects, curricular and extracurricular activities, multi-disciplinary education, conceptual understanding and critical thinking”.
He also spoke on the enormous contributions of Dr Radhakrishnan and compared the older educational policies with NEP-2020.
The Guest of Honour, Manohar Manoj (Senior Journalist, Editor-Economy India and Public Thinker) called for an equal level playing field at every stage of education.
He pressed for proper utilization of available resources, presence of regulatory authority in the education system in the private sector and equitable society- ranking system, board, syllabus, language, medium of education and public-private partnership.
“Education is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society and promoting national development”, he emphasised.
The Special Invitee, Mohammad Naushad Khan (Sub Editor-Radiance Views and the Rapporteur of the Special Lectures Programme) presented the programme report and posited how NEP-2020 is redesigning curriculum to strengthen teaching and learning process.
“NEP-2020 provides reforms at all levels of education from school to higher learning. It increases the focus on strengthening teacher training, ameliorating the exam system, making better the childhood care and restructuring the regulatory framework of education”, said Prof Md Abdus Salam (Chairman, Department of Economics).
Putting forward his views, Prof Abdus Salam added: “NEP-2020 is the required step for bringing changes in the education sector as per the needs of the society and economy. The new educational policy will improve the skills and talent of the students thereby to raise the human development performance of the Country”.
Prof Abdus Salam also joined the guests to felicitate the teaching and non-teaching staff members.
He spoke on the seminal work of the faculty members and the role of the non-teaching staff in assisting the teachers.
In the introductory remarks, Prof Nisar Ahmad Khan (Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences) said that the teachers spend a lifetime in showing the right paths to students and there is no better way to pay them tribute than to celebrate the Teachers’ Day.
Speaking on the background of the Teachers’ Day in the welcome address, Prof Mirza Asmer Beg (Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences) pointed out: “When Dr Radhakrishnan became the President of India, his students pressed for celebrating his birthday. However, Dr Radhakrishnan, who has always been a man of principles, asked them to mark the day as not his birthday, but as the Teachers’ Day”.
Prof S M Jawed Akhtar introduced the speakers and Prof Shehroz Alam Rizvi extended the vote of thanks.
Dr Shirin Rais conducted the programme.
Faculty members and students from across various departments and faculties of the university attended the programme.
A major highlight of the Tecaher’s Day celebrations at the Department was the screening of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s speech on NEP-2020 in which he explained to the Nation how the new educational policy has sown the seeds for starting a fresh era in a new direction to 21st century India. The screening was attended by students and teachers of Economics and various other departments of the university.
Later, a documentary on the life of Dr Radhakrishnan was also screened tracing his arc of life from birth on September 5, 1888 in Tirutani to his student days at the Madras Christian College, Tambaram, teaching career at the Madras Presidency College and the University of Mysore, appointment as the Chancellor of Delhi University and Vice Chancellor of Benares Hindu University to becoming the first Vice President of India and later the second President of India.
Students and teachers also watched ‘Taare Zameen Par’, a movie showing a school teacher helping a Dyslexic lonely boy with his studies.
A group discussion on ‘Role of Bollywood Films in Strengthening Teacher-Student Relationship’ followed the film screening.