ITANAGAR, 21 Mar: The All Arunachal Pradesh Psychological Association (AAPPA) has requested Education Minister PD Sona to take immediate steps for introduction of psychology as a major subject in higher educational institutions of the state.
In a representation to the education minister, the association on Friday appealed to him to “create psychology department with recruitment of adequate number of faculties in all colleges affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), especially in colleges such as Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat, the Doimukh Government College, and the Arunachal Pradesh University, Pasighat.”
Although RGU introduced a master’s programme in psychology in 2017, affiliated colleges across Arunachal still do not offer psychology at the undergraduate level, the association said, adding that “this creates a major gap in higher education, forcing students to leave the state to pursue psychology degree elsewhere.”
The association further said that psychology is an optional subject in the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission examinations, yet students from Arunachal lack the opportunity to obtain a psychology degree within the state. “This disparity puts them at a disadvantage, compared to aspirants from other states, who have access to formal psychology education,” the representation stated.
Referring to its earlier appeal, the AAPPA said: “It is a matter of concern that, despite its growing significance, psychology has not yet been introduced in our state’s educational institutions, while sister disciplines like sociology and anthropology have long been part of the curriculum.”
Other disciplines, such as mass communication, were recently introduced in Dera Natung Government College, Jawaharlal Nehru College, and the Arunachal Pradesh University, in response to students’ demand. However, no action has been taken for psychology courses in these colleges, the association said.
It said that introduction of psychology courses would create significant employment opportunities for trained professionals who can contribute as school counsellors, mental health professionals, educators, researchers, and forensic psychologists, addressing the current shortage of a qualified workforce in Arunachal.
The AAPPA delegation also called on Education Commissioner Amjad Tak and informed him about the need of a psychology department in all higher educational institutions of the state.
