Inauguration of NEP Lecture Series & Teachers' Day Celebration
On September 5, 2025 Loreto College, Kolkata made a glorious landmark in course of her prodigious journey for over a century through an enriching inauguration of NEP Lecture Series, organized, in collaboration with The Indian Association of Life Skills Education (IALSE), Chennai, as commemoration of Teachers’ Day Chennai, on the theme "Situating Life Skills Education in NEP 2020 for Transformative Learning." The online program, held via Google Meet, featuring a overwhelming participation of people from academia and industry all-over India, embarked with a profoundly tone-setting opening remark by Ms. Tania Mondal, Coordinator , Centre for Life Skills, Loreto College, followed by a warm welcome address by Sr. Dr. A. Nirmala, Teacher-in-Charge of Loreto College, who emphasized the importance of life skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and emotional intelligence as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This was followed by the Presidential Address delivered by Dr. A. Radhakrishnan Nair, President of IALSE, who highlighted the association’s mission to make life skills an integral component of holistic education and reflected on the NEP’s transformative potential in shaping adaptable, empathetic, and responsible learners. The heart of the event was the Inaugural Lecture by Prof. (Dr.) Debashis Bandyopadhyay, Vice Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (Deemed University), titled "Life Skills in the NEP Era: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities." In his thought-provoking address, Prof. Bandyopadhyay underlined the importance of bridging the gap between academic instruction and real-life competencies, pointing out that while NEP 2020 offers a strong framework, successful implementation will require teacher preparedness, curriculum innovation, and new assessment models. Pointing to the prodigious importance of Life Skills Education re-inventing the new-age pursuit of knowledge in art, humanities and science, powered by cutting-edge technology in the light of the culture of value and morality, inherent in the abiding and timeless gamut of ancient India Philosophy rooted in Upanishads, in synthesis with Buddhism and Levitical traditions of Old Testament, Prof. Bandyopadhyay articulated the emerging challenges such as systemic inertia and infrastructural limitations while also outlining opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, pedagogical innovation, and enhancing global competitiveness through life skills integration. The session was enriched by an engaging participant interaction, where educators and scholars posed questions on classroom strategies for embedding life skills, to which the Chief Guest responded with practical insights and recommendations. The program concluded with a gracious Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Gauri Hardikar, Vice President of IALSE, who acknowledged the distinguished speakers, participants, and the joint efforts of IALSE and Loreto College in successfully hosting the event. By combining the reflective discussions of the NEP Lecture Series with the celebratory spirit of Teachers’ Day, the program not only honored the invaluable role of educators but also reaffirmed the shared vision of building an education system that cultivates competence, creativity, and compassion. The session, which concluded at 7:00 PM, imbued participants with renewed inspiration to carry forward the goals of NEP 2020 by integrating life skills education as a cornerstone of transformative learning in contemporary times.
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