Kohima: Higher education institutions in Nagaland are facing trouble. The rollout of the National Education Policy 2020 has triggered widespread alarm among students and staff. A two-month investigation involving 15 subjects, including 10 students and five lecturers, reveals that mandatory extracurricular programs frequently bleed into core study hours. While the policy aims for multidisciplinary growth, the practical execution is stalling progress.
Lecturers report that lost teaching hours make internal assessments a scramble. Instructors rely on presentations, assignments, and class tests to gauge progress, but the calendar is too crowded. One lecturer noted, “When regular classes are affected, it becomes difficult to complete the syllabus.” The pressure is even worse at large colleges where scheduling logistics are complex.
Students are pushing back against strict attendance requirements for seminars and workshops. They often feel like seat-fillers for events that offer little academic value. These mandates pile on the workload, squeezing out time for independent study and physical activity. Some participants argue that certificates from these sessions lack real-world utility. They question if the skill-development programs actually prepare them for jobs or if they exist solely to check a box.
The consensus among those interviewed is that the policy needs a serious reality check. Academic calendars require better coordination to protect teaching time. Students want programs that align with their career goals rather than forced participation. Until planners align extracurricular goals with classroom reality, the policy will remain a hurdle for Nagaland’s colleges.
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