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Odisha government is introducing the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 in the state’s higher education sector, including a new curriculum in all government universities.
Reasons for Delay in NEP-2020 Implementation by BJD Government
Odisha faced significant infrastructure challenges in higher education, which needed to be addressed before implementing NEP.
There was a lack of qualified teachers and skilled staff to support the policy's rollout effectively.
The state needed to overcome technical gaps, such as the availability of digital platforms and systems for online education and exams.
Odisha's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) was only 22.1%, much lower than the national target of 50%.
This meant the state had to increase enrollment capacity before the policy could be fully implemented.
The NEP required significant financial investment (around ₹10,000-₹12,000 crore), while Odisha was only spending a fraction of that amount.
The NEP mandates internships for all students, but Odisha lacked the industries and institutions to provide such opportunities for a large number of students.
How the New System Aims to Increase Employability
112 multi-disciplinary courses, 14 vocational courses, 56 value-added courses, and 84 skill development courses will be introduced across 40 undergraduate subjects to improve employability.
The new system emphasizes mandatory internships for students, ensuring they gain real-world experience.
The government plans to fund these internships and have them recognized for academic credit.
Odisha has partnered with NASSCOM to provide digital skills training to students, increasing their employability in the tech and digital sectors.
Through initiatives like the Odisha University Research and Innovation Incentivisation Plan (OURIIP), young faculty are given funding to conduct research, which helps in improving the overall quality of education and student opportunities.
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