Ref.No. Policy/Edn/MHRD/2019-001
Date: 25-July-2019
The
Minister
Ministry
of Human Resource Development
Govt.
of India
E-mail:
nep.edu@nic.in
Sub:
comments and suggestions regarding the Draft National Education
Policy
Dear
Sir
We,
members of the Society for Systems Biology & Translational
Research (SSBTR),
url: www.ssbtr.net) have gone through Draft National Education Policy
in our general meeting held in our society on 14th
July 2019 and happy to respond to your call for public opinion.
We
appreciate the committee’s initiative of introducing the concept of
developing multi-disciplinary liberal arts education system (pg
29),
amalgamation between general and professional education (pg
203, 213),
giving freedom to the educational institutions in developing courses
and teacher recruitment policy (pg
210),
emphasis to research in higher education (pg
31)
and also appreciate the outlook of giving importance to the
philanthropic initiative (pg
206, 334, 405).
Several of these are also indicated by our research on educational
policy.
In
this connection we would like to point out the following points:
1.
Our observation with respect to biomedical research are as follows
[Annals
of Systems Biology,
2016 1(1): 1-12]:
a.
India produced 90.5% of total biomedical publications generated by
the SAARC countries.
b.
The World share of biomedical research output is gradually growing
from India along with China and Brazil.
c.
As per NSF 2010 report, India’s priorities for research (on the
basis of journal publication) in different disciplines are 28% in
biomedical research, 67.7% in Physics and Engineering and rest in
Social and Agricultural Sciences.
d.
As per 2013 report, 5% of global shares of clinical trials is India’s
share estimation.
These
data suggest that research activities in India with respect to
publication is not poor, but emphasis on biomedical research and most
importantly translational aspect of research is seriously lacking in
Indian context. In the draft policy research activities are
encouraged but we have not seen a single word on translational
research. From the practical stand-point followings are our
observations –
Conglomeration
of biomedical research with biology and translational research with
product based laboratory research or epidemiology based field
research seriously hampering future health care. Our health care
sector is devoid of getting the fruits (outputs) of basic science, as
in Indian education system is unable to adapt the translational
aspect of research
[Journal
of Translational Research,
2017, 1(1): 1-4; Advances
in Pharmacology and Clinical Trials,
2016, 1(1): APCT-MS-ID-00010].
It is needless to mention here that AYUSH, Yoga, Homeopathy etc. are
mentioned to serve for health care for larger community (pg
305)
which in turn, admits the poor health care facility at present
moment. We
therefore strongly suggest to emphasize the aspect of translational
research in educational policy
and for its proper implementation separate assessment components with
concerned experts need to be included, as from our practical
observation, we have seen neither mere science trained (in a single
discipline) nor a single profession trained personnel have the
expertise to appreciate its methods and procedures.
2.
Several newly developed subjects like Operation Research, Cognitive
Science, and Systems Biology are inherently multidisciplinary in
nature and for those subjects mere knowledge of two or three subjects
are insufficient. Hence, for those subjects major and minor concept
of education may not be effective. So
for the subjects which are inherently multidisciplinary in nature,
broader choice of subjects and more flexibility and freedom of opting
of subject papers need to be allowed.
3.
We appreciate the concept of synergy between technical education with
general education (pg
294)
with the parallel entry of personnel with experience in hospital or
industry for teaching position (pg
299).
We
suggest not to orient it only for professional education, but also
for general education system as well,
because inclusion of personnel with diversified field will foster the
translational aspect in general education and may enhance the job
opportunity of students from general education as well. From our
practical observation we have noticed that -
a.
most of teachers involved in general education do not have any
exposure to real life problems and hence, real-life research
experience is overlooked in Indian higher education.
b.
counting of experience is based on class room teaching activities.
c.
even in Master’s program undergraduate teaching experience is
counted as experience and research experience is kept aside.
d.
several institutional leaders and educational policy makers do not
have adequate research experience in a multi-/ cross-disciplinary
research experience as par publication record.
We,
therefore, suggest the followings for teacher
recruitment and selection of institutional leader
especially in master’s program in higher education –
a.
To revamp research culture in higher education, especially for
master’s program research experience need to be emphasized, instead
of class room teaching experience and merit should be on the basis of
research potentiality.
b.
To make education at par of national or international standard,
priority should be imparted to the personnel who has experience of
clearing different entrance examination of national or international
repute.
c.
To implement multidisciplinary liberal arts in Indian education
system emphasis need to be imparted in selection of institutional
leaders with a working research experience in a multidisciplinary
areas.
SSBTR
thinks that this is the most important aspect of this paradigm shift,
as at present moment most of the institutional leaders do not have
true multidisciplinary working research experience.
4.
In the draft policy, importance of philanthropic bodies and
not-for-profit (pg.
206, 334,405)
is emphasized. In this connection we suggest to include the
importance of different educational and scientific societies. It is
needless to point out here that from pre-independence era scientific
societies played an immense role in the new knowledge generation, for
example, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Asiatic
Society and Indian Statistical Society. In recent time Operation
Research Society offered several educational programs/courses. Hence
scientific societies need to be included in this venture. However, in
contrast to corporate bodies, many of them do not have enough
financial fund to start new programs like a university structure;
however, ample expertise are available there; hence, they can start
newer courses in miniature scales and may produce new body of
knowledge. Hence without
any pre-assigned financial stipulation, clause or conditions
educational and scientific societal bodies need to include in this
new venture.
If
you need further clarification, we are eager to respond to your
queries.
Thanking
you.
With
regards,
Dibyendu
Kumar Ray, M.S., M.Ch. Durjoy Majumder, Ph.D.
President Secretary
