VC underlines changing role of teachers in wake of NEP re-orientation

Srinagar: A national-level seminar marked the celebration of Teachers’ Day at the University of Kashmir on Monday.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan chaired the seminar titled ‘Teachers: Reorienting the Societal Consciousness towards Human Values’, organised by the Department of Education.
In her presidential address, Prof Nilofer focused on the changing role of teachers in the context of National Education Policy-2020 that lays emphasis on development of strong moral and ethical facets of students, apart from their intellectual abilities, to make them capable of facing the emerging societal challenges.
“Today’s teacher may therefore require to develop better strategies for teaching, research and learning to be effective and relevant within and beyond the classroom,” she said, urging young teachers to “break the shackles of cocoons” to realise the goal of imparting multidisciplinary education and help the society to produce socially-conscious and ethically-strong student community.
In his exhaustive keynote address, Prof Akhtar Siddiqui, former chairman of NCTE, underlined how human values form the foundation of a robust education system and its success. He also underscored how effective language development can lead to effective development of a value system among individuals.
“Given the onslaught of information flow amid new technologies, penetration of mobile technology and extensive use of social media by people, the inculcation of ethical and moral values among students is a challenge before today’s teachers,” he said.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof Farooq A Masoodi called for greater student-teacher interaction to develop a “healthy academic ecosystem” where students learn from teachers and vice-versa.
Registrar Dr Nisar A Mir said teachers today are the “first agency of socialisation” and asserted that “education is the best leveler of inequities and inequalities.” He assured the administration’s full support for teacher training and learning programmes to ready teachers to “face new and emerging challenges.”
Dean School of Behavioural Sciences Prof Showket A Shah spoke about the importance of experiential learning.
Head, Department Education, Prof Tasleema Jan delivered the welcome address and highlighted the significance of the seminar theme.
Dr Amina Parveen delivered a vote of thanks, while Dr Manzoor A Rather conducted proceedings of the inaugural session, which was attended by senior faculty members including Prof M Iqbal Matoo and Prof Mehmood A Khan.

KR Desk