NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020
(By Ajuni Bedi)
The date we were focusing on what to think in our education policy and now we are focusing on ‘How to think’.
Introduction
Education being a Fundamental Right in India includes the right to free, accessible and quality Education in today’s scenario, keeping in view the rapid development and the comprehensive advancement of the digital India, the need for quality education as well as an overwhelming of the education system was the need of an hour.
New education policy is formulated by the government of India aiming towards achieving the policy initiatives by 2030. It is a complete change in the existing education policy which was last implemented in 1986. It is focusing on the self-capabilities of child and concept-based learning, instead of rote learning procedures.
The framework of the National Education Policy
The current policy replaces the National Education Policy 1986.
The discussion regarding the New Education Policy was started in January 2015 by the committee under the leadership of cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian and a report was submitted by the committee in 2017.
A Draft of National Education Policy, made on the basis of the report of 2017, was submitted by the new team led by former ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan in 2019.
The drafted New Education Policy was announced, by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, after consulting with the public and stakeholders.
The New Education Policy then came into existence on 29 July 2020.
Structural Transformations in New Education Policy
School Education
The 10+2 module is replaced by 5+3+3+4 model. The execution will be carried out as:
Foundational Stage – It will include three years of pre-schooling period.
Preparatory Stage – It constitutes of classes 3-5, with ages 8-11 years.
Middle Stage – It will constitute of class 6-8, with age 11-14 years.
Secondary Stage – It will constitute class 9-12, with ages 14- 19 years. These four years will be linked with choice for multi-disciplinary study. It will not be necessary to study in only one discipline.
The students have to give exams only thrice i.e. in 3, 5, and 8th class.
“PARAKH”, an assessment body has to be established for assessing student’s performance.
Higher Education
The bachelor’s programme would be a 4-year programme with a flexible exit. Obtaining a year course will provide with certification, 2-year with a diploma degree, 3-year with a bachelor’s degree, and 4-year will be integrated with the research work and finding related to the subject studied.
Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for providing funds and finances to universities and colleges. This will replace AICTE and UGC.
The responsibility of the national testing agency to hold common entrance for universities and colleges along with conducting NEET and JEE.
Master of Philosophy courses to discontinue, as it was an intermediate course between Masters and Ph.D.
National Research Foundation (NRA) to be developed to foster research and innovations.
The foreign universities to set their campuses in our country and vice versa.
Teacher’s Education and Recruitment
The 4-year integrated B.Ed programme made it essential for teaching.
There must be workshops organized for the training of the teachers regarding various teaching aids.
Transparency in recruiting processes of teachers as teachers are at a centralized role for the development of students.
Beneficial Impacts of the New Education Policy
It lays stress on the self-capability, cognitive skills of the learner. It will help a child to develop their talents if they are having inborn talents.
Earlier the students had the option of opting for only one discipline for studying but now different subjects can opt, for example – one can opt for art and craft along with mathematics.
Emphasis on every subject to be treated equally.
The main motive is to develop the power of interaction, critical thinking, and the ability to reasoning with the inculcation of innovative ideas among the students.
The multiple exit option in bachelor’s courses will provide an opportunity for the students to benefit from the experience and attain skills by working somewhere in meantime and then continue later.
The new education policy focuses on the practical aspect of learning any subject, as it is considered a better way of understanding the concept.
All the institutions and higher education institutes to become multidisciplinary by 2040.
Conclusion
The new education policy is laid down with several initiatives that are really the need of the present scenario. The policy is concerned with attention on skill development along with the study curriculum. Merely dreaming of anything will not make it work, as proper planning and working according to that will only help in fulfilling the objective. No sooner the objectives of NEP are achieved, will propel our nation towards progress.
