A four day Project Review and Monitoring Meeting on National Education Project, organized by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in collaboration with J&K Board of School Education, began here today.The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is the coordinating and implementing agency of the National Population Education Project (NPEP) at National and State/UT level. The project is sponsored by Union Ministry of Human Resource & Development.The National Population Education Project is being implemented by 28 States and 07 Union Territories of India and five Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) of NCERT.The specific objective of this programme is to present research findings of the research studies undertaken by the States/UTs/RIEs. Besides, to review the implementation of Plan of Action - 2019-20 of each State/UT/RIE and to prepare the detailed Plan of Action and Project Budget For the next financial year 2020-21 of each State/UT/RIE and to discuss and plan roll out of the School Health and Wellness programme under Ayushman Bharat.To achieve the above objectives of NPEP, Annual Plans of Action are prepared by all the implementing agencies In order to prepare Annual Plans of Action and Budget Estimate and review the status of research studies planned by States/UTs/RIEs under NPEP, an annual Project Progress Review Meeting is organized every year.Annual Plans of Action and Budget Estimates are prepared by the implementing agencies in this meeting and are placed for approval before the Project Finance & Monitoring Committee of NCERT. In the PPR meeting almost all the States/UTs of the Country are participating including around 5 Principals from RIEs, Some Directors of SCERTs, Project Coordinators, Project Officers from across the country.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prof Hrushikesh Senapaty Director NCERT; Prof. Saroj Yaday, Dean Academics, NCERT and Dr. Farooq Ahamd Peer,. Director Academics JKBOSE.At the outset, Director Academics/ State Project Director, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Peer welcomed the guests and participants from different States/UT. He also highlighted the importance of Adolescence Education and gave brief description about the activities carried out by JKAEP Cell, JKBOSE.The Director JKBOSE highlighted the importance of Adolescence Education in the present contemporary era and said that the adolescents see the challenges before them in fresh ways and are responding with enthusiasm and imagination. He said that the world clearly needs the energy, participation and skills of adolescents and He complemented NCERT for taking this intuitive seriously.He also said that Adolescence is commonly considered as a relatively healthy phase of life. However, adolescents have unique health needs and concerns that have not received adequate attention in policies and programmes until recently. Global evidence suggests that mental health disorders and road injuries are the major contributors to morbidity and mortality among young people.In a well attended opening session, the Director NCERT, Prof Hrushikesh Senapaty emphasized the importance and benefits of the Population education project. He emphasized on the overall development of the adolescence by providing them information, counseling and services including the health services through this programme. He said, the second major thrust of National Population Education Project is Adolescence Education.
As we are aware, the current population of adolescents in the age-group 10-19 years in India is 253 million, which constitute nearly 21 percent of India's population. This number is growing with a definite possibility of making this country the youngest in the world in the near future. Today this group is having certain needs and concerns that are very critical for their development as responsible and productive citizens of the country.Prof. Saroj Yadav, Dean Academics NCERT, who is also National Coordinator for NPEP, informed about the overall project in detail. She said that The NPEP has two major thrust areas. One is Population and Development concerns and the second is Adolescence Education concerns Adolescence Education is also a part of National Population Education Project. It is being implemented as a key intervention for empowering adolescents to deal with risky situations, preventing new HIV infections, reducing vulnerability to the infection and substance dependence and influencing positive behaviour development. It is designed as an early intervention by providing adolescents with information on Process of Growing up during adolescence, HIV and AIDS and Substance abuse; as well as developing in them life skills.In order to achieve the above objectives, Curriculum framework, Training and Resource Material, Facilitators Guide and Activity book for children has been developed by NCERT with focus on life skills enhancement. Prof. Saroj Yadav also talked about two important schemes that Recently the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has launched. She said that training and resource material developed by NCERT on Health and Wellness of School going children under the aegis of School Health component of Ayushman Bharat that was launched by the Honorable Prime Minister on April 14 2018.