The fourth edition of Difficult Dialogues, an annual conference tackling the most vital issues facing South Asia, started in Panjim on Thursday y at the International Centre Goa (ICG). Governor Goa Mridula Sinha formally inaugurated the conference which focuses this year on the theme of "Education: Illuminating The Myriad Facets."
Top education experts from India and abroad will hold discussion with an aim to bridge the gap between policy formulation and on-ground implementation in the Education sector and come up with actionable white papers which would be taken up with the relevant policy makers and authorities in order to make a constructive difference.
The inauguration followed a thought provoking panel discussion entitled 'Educating Minds Changing Mindsets' where panelists like Arif Mohammad Khan (Former Cabinet Minister) , Deepa Narayan (behaviourial analyst and writer), Renuka Chowdhury (Rajya Sabha, Member of Parliament) and Manjushree Patil (India Country Director of Samanta, a sister organisation of THINK EQUAL -UK) expressed their views on how the power of education could be leveraged to break the cycles of violence, negative stereotypes, and prejudicial judgements, and suggested recommendations that could be taken up with policy makers.
In the second Ina panel discussion on Friday, panelists Francisco Marmolejo, Niraja Gopal Jayal, Maheshwari Peri, Pankaj Chandra, Pushkar debated on building world class universities.
The panel stressed on the extreme importance of the quality of education and that Education without Quality is no Education at all. And once the Quality is there, one should ensure that the courses and education offered are Relevant. And once good quality, relevant education is available, the government should ensure that it is Affordable so that the larger masses can benefit and these do not remain elite pockets of excellence.
It was noted that the best minds are not getting into academia which is affecting the quality of education in our higher education universities. Political interference and state control was stifling innovation and flexibility which is required as the culture and needs of each university is different. The panel recommended the need to get back to faculty based decision making where the faculty too is involved in financial, administrative, pedagogical and academic issues. Autonomy and diversity are essential to innovate that is the stepping stone to building excellence
This year the Knowledge Partners for Difficult Dialogues 2019 are Oxford Centre For Higher Education Policy Studies (OxCHEPS), UK, Brookings India, the Goa University (GU) and the International Centre Goa (ICG) and they have identified eminent academics and international experts who would join hands with local education practitioners and policy makers to grapple with critical issues related to the education sector.
Speaking on the occasion Surina Narula, founder of Difficult Dialogues commented, "There is a pressing need to work on policy change and this can only be done by bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation for which we need to include the last mile implementers in the policy discussion. Difficult Dialogues provides such a forum for showcasing best practices, listening to senior advisers of the government, finding solutions and bringing out a document prescribing policy changes in partnership with our knowledge partners. This year the task is to explore the challenges that India faces in the Education sector and see what needs to be done to bring it back on the path of excellence. This is critical as a good educational system is a must to achieve equality and justice in our society."