National Education Policy 2020
1. Introduction
Under the visionary
leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has taken
several significant steps in the past years to improve the education
sector.The National Education
Policy 2020 (NEP)is
central to these reforms. It can give a new direction to India’s vast education
system of 15.5 lakh schools, about 50,000 higher educational institutions,
28.53 crore students and 108 lakh teachers.
2. Need for a
New Education Policy
The last education policy was formulated in 1986. It was called
for a review in every five years. However, the policy was reviewed only once in
1992. Since then,the world has changed drastically in every field including
science, technology, communication etc. To keep pace with this change, we
needed an education system that:
·
Could prepare the
students to meet the demands of the 21st century
·
Could enable them to
become job giver rather than job seeker
·
To give them the
ability and the strength to work for their country and the world
·
To once again
establish India as global knowledge super power
·
Transforming India
into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower through
broad-based, flexible, multidisciplinary education suited to 21st century needs
·
Bringing out the
unique capabilities of each student
·
Promote critical
thinking rather than rote learning, focus on learning instead of studying,
encouragement to scientific temperament
·
Integration of global
with local
·
Instilling among
learners, a deep-rooted pride in being Indian, as well as developing knowledge,
skills and values that make them truly global citizens
4. Key
Features of NEP 2020[1]: School Education
·
Focuses on universal
reach of school education by 2030 with 100 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio
(GER).
·
Emphasis on Early
Childhood Care and Education.
·
New curricular
structure 5+3+3+4 instead of 10+2.
·
National Mission
on Foundational Literacy and
Numeracy to achieve
literacy and numeracy.
·
Flexibility in the
selection of subjects- No hard separation among the disciplines of Art, Science
and Vocational education.
·
Improvement in
the curriculum for school education and pedagogy for promoting creative
thinking and 21st Century skills among learners.
·
Gender Inclusion Fund
for promoting education for girls[2].
·
Beginning of
vocational education from class 6th including
internship.
·
NCERT will develop a
new and comprehensive National Curriculum
Framework.
·
Recommendation for
Multilingualism and Three Language Formula.
·
360 degree holistic
report card for an improved evaluation.
·
Provision for equal
and inclusive education.
·
Provision for the
recruitment and professional growth of teachers.
5. Key
Features of NEP 2020: Higher Education
·
Gross Enrolment ratio
in higher education including vocational education to be increased to 50 per
cent by 2035.
·
3.50crore new seats
will added to Higher Education Institutions.
·
Emphasis on Flexible
Curriculum with creative combinations of subjects
·
Vocational Education
to be integrated with mainstream education.
·
Multiple entry and
exit will be allowed with appropriate certification.
·
Setting up of Academic
Bank of Credit for digitally storing academic credits so that these can be
counted and transferred towards final degree earned.
·
The National Research
Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research
culture and building research capacity in higher education.
·
Affiliation of
colleges to be phased out in 15 years.
·
Multidisciplinary
Education & Research Universities (MERUs) at par with IITs, IIMs, to be set
up.
·
National Mission for
Mentoring to be set up.
·
Focus on
Internationalization of education.
·
Setting up an Indian
Institute of Translation and Interpretation, National Institute for Pali,
Persian and Prakrit language, strengthening of Sanskrit and all language
departments in the higher education institutions.
·
Open and distance
education, online and digital education to be promoted.
·
Provision for
professional growth of faculties.
·
Focus on
internationalization of education.
6. Benefits of
the Policy for All
Students
Development of
functional literacy and numeracy skills:
·
Students can study
subjects of their choice, and can studyaccording to their convenience
·
Maximum global
opportunities, better pathway for research
·
Prepared for the needs
of the 21st century
Teachers
·
Better professional
career progress
·
More global
opportunities
·
New areas for research
·
More autonomy
Educational
Institutions
·
Quality of
Institutions will be enhanced
·
Professional
management, enhancement in autonomy
·
More global
cooperation
·
More dimensions for
research
·
Opportunities for
better rankings
Nation
·
India will emerge as a
major knowledge power in the world
·
Empowering youth for
21st century
·
Encouragement to
economy
7. Changes at
glance after NEP,2020
|
Education before Reform |
Education after
Reform |
|
·
Emphasis on marks obtained in examination rather than on
learning. ·
Not much focus on vocational courses. ·
No provision for multiple entry and exit- if a learner had to
leave studies before completion of course, there was no credit for the
studies he had done. ·
No focus on individual/personal creative & holistic
development of the learner; lack of in depth thinking and self-confidence. ·
Unsatisfactory international image of Indian Institutions. ·
Mismanagement of institutions of higher education. |
·
Improvement in School Curriculum for emphasis on creative
thinking. ·
Emphasis on Vocational courses. ·
Permission for multiple entry and exit for learners-they will
be able to continue their studies as per their convenience and will be
provided certificate accordingly. ·
Special education zones for disadvantaged areas. ·
Opening of Foreign Institutes in India and more educational
cooperation. ·
Integration of professional, teacher and vocational education. |
Source:PIB e-booklet on Transformative Reforms in Education
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