GUWAHATI: The University Grants Commision (UGC) released a set of guidelines on Wednesday, January 31, in order to provide equitable opportunities to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in Higher Educational Institutes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Under these new guidelines, universities and higher educational institutes have been directed to set up an independent SEDGs Cell to ensure opportunities for inclusive, equal and quality higher education for the SEDGs students and to introduce bridge course, earn-while schemes and outreach programmes to enhance their participation in higher education Institutions through access, equity and inclusion and to increase opportunities for their employment.
The notification by UGC reads, “Accomplishing the goals of NEP 2020 is considered necessary to help India addressing effectively the challenges of her commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, particularly the challenges related to achieving SDG-4 (quality education), SDG-5 (gender equality), SDG-1 (no poverty), and SDG-8 (decent work and economic growth). These guidelines are meant to ensure that students belonging to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) have a safe and secure environment and equitable access to quality education in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), as specified in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.”
According to the guidelines, SEDGs students will be offered ‘Bridge courses’ prior to the beginning of the semester in order to help the students of SEDGs category perform academically at par with other category students. The bridge courses (in physical or online mode) will be offered in the local language of the students and will be tailor-made to meet their requirements, with a separate timetable prepared to provide in advance, both primary and supplementary knowledge on the subjects taught during the semesters.
Furthermore, an Earn-while-Learn (EwL) scheme has been introduced to help the SEDGs students earn and support their education and acquire skills and capabilities that would enhance their employability where opportunities will be provided to them under which they can work on research projects, assistantship, Library assignments, Computer services, Data entry, laboratory assistance, etc.
Additionally, an outreach program will begin for SEDGs students under which they will be provided help and support and professional, academic, and career counselling will be made available to ensure the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of the students.