Andhra Pradesh: Colleges to Reopen from November 2, 2020; Check Revised Academic Calendar

Andhra Pradesh colleges are ready to reopen from November 2, 2020. The AP State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) submitted the academic calendar for the year 2020-2021 to the state chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Once the CM approves the academic calendar, they will make the formal announcement. 

APSCHE Chairman K Hemachandra Reddy has informed that this year admissions to all the non-professional degree courses would be held online for the first time through a centralized window. The admission will be based on the intermediate marks obtained by the students. 

Read: AP Government to Reopen Colleges from Oct 15, All CETs to be held in Sept 2020, says CM Jagan Mohan Reddy

During the month of June, all the degree colleges offering non-professional undergraduate courses were asked by APSCHE to provide detailed information to verify the facts and allow admissions by institutions. 

The details about the institutions shall be uploaded in a specific format on the official website apsche.org.

Academic Calendar: New specifications

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the academic calendar was postponed thrice earlier for 2020-2021. 

The new academic calendar will help in the lockdown situation and the educational reforms under the new National Education Policy (NEP). 

Furthermore, the new academic calendar comprises a special provision for the loss of teaching days due to the pandemic. It also specifies the implementation of four-year bachelor degree courses for non-professional courses, including a one-year internship/on-the-job training.

Read: NEP 2020: New Regulations to Affect Board Exams; Here's all you need to know

CBCS Revises Choice Based Credit System

The APSCHE has also decided to revise the Choice Based Credit system for the non-professional degree courses implemented in 2015 after completing five years. 

The new CBCS offers life skill courses, skill development courses, as well as skill enhancement courses. 

Apart from this, a compulsory 10-month internship, along with community service, is added to the academic calendar.

A committee has been formed to suggest the effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and give further recommendations.

Read: NEP makes provisions to provide early education in the mother tongue

The Committee will also be proposing the development of a State Research Board to ensure development in the areas of science and technology or scientific research.

The council will focus on the balanced interaction between industry, academics, and coordinating with the AP Skill Development Corporation.

Moreover, the council also aims to promote the gross enrolment ratio in the Higher Education sector and improve the gender parity index. They will also focus on establishing Cluster University and set up a model college in each district.

Read: New Education Policy gets approved by the Ministry of HRD, now known as the Ministry of Education