BEST PRACTICES

BEST PRACTICE 1

LINK: NSOU Study Centre (H-07), Nahata Jogendranath Mondal Smriti Mahavidyalaya

Title of the Practice

Educate – Enlighten – Elevate: Spreading education among the unprivileged

Objectives of the Practice

• To help the neighbouring community in getting access to higher education
• To provide a second chance to the College drop-outs
• To help female students to continue higher education from home
• To help working students to continue higher education with flexible time schedules like Sundays
• To help those who live in remote areas by reducing distance, transportation cost and rigour of regular attendance

The Context

Nahata Jogendranath Mondal Smriti Mahavidyalaya situated in a rural, backward, remote area near the Indo-Bangladesh border, is dominated by Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class population. This community is also financially backward. Our College has the Vision and Mission of serving the students and the community. Students who could not complete their graduation due to various factors find here a second chance for continuing their higher education. 

The Practice

The New Education Policy (NEP), 2020 intends to enhance the gross enrolment ratio to 50% by 2030 and comply with sustainable development through Open Distance and Online Learning which lie within the premise of Education Policy, i.e., Access, Equity, Quality and Affordability.

The  Mission of Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU) is to spread quality education in flexible mode all over the State, providing access to different skills-enhancing educational programme in vernacular language, that is, Bengali and making it available at low cost to the unprivileged people. Our College shares the same Vision and Mission.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the College and Netaji Subhas Open University for starting a Study Centre at Nahata Jogendranath Mondal Smriti Mahavidyalaya was signed in 2005. The Study Centre which began as a Post Graduate Study Centre now teaches subjects which not only enhance learning but also professional skills with UG, PG, Advanced Diploma and Certificate courses.

Nahata Jogendranath Mondal Smriti Mahavidyalaya Study Centre (H-07) continues its 20 years glorious journey to success and service to the student community.

Evidence of Success

The success of the Study Centre can be gauged from the following facts :

• In the last six years in the Under Graduate (UG) programme, the average enrollment of students is around 500, with 40 percent female students.  During pandemic in 2021-22, the enrolment of female students touches six years highest at 45.5 percent. 
• The number of female students in SC student enrollment has increased considerably from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
• The enrollment of female students is higher than that of male students in the PG programme.
• Students including house wives, drop-outs and teachers of different Schools and Colleges have completed higher study from this Study Centre. 

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

• Lack of Infrastructure and basic amenities like toilets & adequate classrooms which make it difficult for students to focus on their studies
• Lack of digital infrastructure like limited internet access: online learning  resources
• Lack of resources like library access, lack of computers, shortage of teaching faculty and inadequate fund.

Notes

With the establishment of this Study Centre the College has fulfilled its first pledge - bringing the light of knowledge among the downtrodden and the excluded, and helping a community to enter the mainstream of social honour and dignity.

With the opening of this Study Centre 20 years ago, the College has achieved one step forward to realize the Vision and Mission of our College that is in sync with the NEP, 2020. 

BEST PRACTICE 2

LINK: NCC (MALE & FEMALE UNITS)

Title of the Practice

Train - Assimilate - Empower: Contribution to the lives of the unprivileged

Objectives of the Practice

• To   inculcate qualities like nationalism and discipline, courage and solidarity among the students and create responsible citizens
• To help students who want to join Defence related Services with ‘B’ and ‘C’ Certificates
• To encourage girl students to learn self-defence 

The Context

The Institution was built on the ideals of Late Mahapran Jogendranath Mondal who spent his life serving the backward community. Our students come from financially depressed classes. They can enter the mainstream and earn respect in society only through education and economic empowerment. With this Vision, the College introduced NCC Cell for male students in the year 1989 and girl students in 2009.  Success came slowly but steadily. 

The Practice

The National Education Policy enables harnessing of the natural talent and unique potential of students by introducing NCC wing in various Colleges and Universities, which in turn have helped students to aspire for a successful career in the defence forces. In alignment with NEP 2020, a NCC curriculum has been formulated which offers essential knowledge and technical skills to the students.

The NCC unit for boys in our College was introduced in 1989 and the girls unit in 2009. It became a source of inspiration for girls as they began to acquire leadership and other qualities. 

NCC unit celebrated its glorious 25 years of journey (Silver Jubilee) in the year 2014 and its success story continues till date with organization of various social activities that serve the neighbouring community. 

The NCC Alumni generated fund and helped the impoverished families of the College locality during the pandemic.

Evidence of Success

Glimpses of success of NCC unit are as follows: 

• A thorough rigorous training regime has helped the students to assimilate the course and to obtain the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Certificates. 
• Success came as employment in different defence related services including Army, CRPF, WBP, WBCEF, BSF and Fire Brigade. 
• Till the academic year 2022-23, the total number of employed cadets is 220 including female cadets (as per record).
• Also, till date, 27 cadets (including females) received National recognition in TSC, RDC, LRDC and SNIC.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

• Strict discipline and laborious training for long hours often discourage students from joining NCC 
• Sometimes students feel that their studies will be affected by long hours of training
• Self-assertive girls with leadership qualities and ambition to join different Defence related services are often disapproved by conservative parents and orthodox society
• Language is a major hindrance as students coming from Bengali  medium schools are not well conversed in Hindi/English which is the medium of instruction in NCC
• No lady ANO

Notes

The New Education Policy, 2020 has emphasized on the holistic development of students. But our Institution, located in a rural, backward area near the Indo-Bangladesh border with restricted resources has thought of the holistic development of the individual student besides teaching them regular academic courses for the last 37 years (since 1989).