The New Education Policy | The National Education Policy 2020

Ever since the HRD ministry announced National Education Policy 2020, all the eyes have rolled towards what this policy promises. Let’s look at the key takeaways of the policy, and further analyse the new education policy.

The National Education policy 2020 As unveiled on Wednesday 29 July, is the first educational policy to be introduced in the 21st Century. It replaces the National policy of Education,1986. Efforts for the new policy have been underway since 2015 and it has been recently approved by the Union Cabinet. The policy aims to introduce several changes in the Indian education system, from the school to level to college. Among other takeaways, the ministry of human resource development had been renamed to the ministry of education.

HIGHLIGHTS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020:

At-least 6 percent of GDP will be spent on Education which was 3 percent before. Though, it is comparatively low in comparison to first world nations, it is still a giant leap.

School Education

The reforms suggested under school education offer great flexibility of subjects.

The existing 10+2 structure of school education shall be changed to a 5+3+3+4 system, covering students from the age of 3 to 18 years. On further bifurcation, the structure is as follows-

• Three years of preschool education plus two years in grades 1 and 2, covering ages 3-8 years
• Three years if preparatory stage covering grades 3-5, ages 8-11
• Three years of middle stage, covering grades 6-8 and ages 11-14
• Four years of secondary stage, covering ages 14-18 and grades 9-12.
• Class 10th and 12th shall be made easier, with a focus on skills and’ core competency’  preferred over memorized facts. There is an emphasis on replacing memory based learning to concept clarity and understanding. Students shall also be allowed to take the exam twice, once for the exam, and another for improvement.
• No rigid separation between academics, extracurricular and vocational studies.
• Further, the boundaries between arts, commerce and sciences stream shall be blurred. For example, a student can choose both Physics and history in his curriculum. Hence the battle between the streams shall become the thing of the past.
• Internships shall be emphasized from class 6 with a view to give practical exposure.
• Promotion of Multilingualism and learning native languages. Accordingly, Students up-to 5th grade shall be taught in mother tongue/regional language
• New curriculum shall encompass skills like coding, painting etc. from Class 6th
• Self evaluation and progress reports will be analysed by the students themselves. This shall teach them independence in terms of better decision making and choosing the right approach.
• Introduction of CAT(Common Entrance Test)
• According to this, if a student isn’t able to get his/her desired college through board exam grades, he/she can give the Common Entrance Test for taking admission.

ALSO READ: School and higher education to see major changes

College education

• Gross enrollment ratio to be raised to 50 percent by 2035.
• Undergraduate degrees can be either of 3 or four years, with multiple exit points. Students shall be given a certificate after completing 1 year of study, diploma, after 2 and a degree after a 3 or a 4-year programme. An academic bank of credit shall be established, for digitally storing academic certificates. They can be transferred as well.
• M phil courses will be discontinued
• Higher education commission of India will be set-up as a single umbrella body for higher education. This body will replace other affiliation bodies like UGC, AICTE and NCTE.

Teacher’s training

The policy also purports to improve teacher’s skills. Therefore, the BEd course shall now be of four years. The teacher eligibility tests(TETs) will be strengthened for better results. Teachers will be introduced to newer methods of teaching. They shall also be sensitivised to digital modes. A common national proficiency standard will be set for teachers.

Conclusion/ personal opinion

• The policy is no doubt, one of the most needed policies in recent times, but the implementation is still quite far in the galaxy. It is expected to be implemented by 2030, but the decision could take longer than expected, since all the states and UTs will have to make their decisions first.
• There’s a focus on centralization of the education system, which may create disturbances in non-BJP states.
• Further, English not being a compulsory subject, is inherently problematic. In the times of Globalization, English makes it easier to make others hear your voices and appreciate your skills and talent across the globe. However, with the new policy, this becomes tougher for obvious reasons.
• However, the policy if implemented successfully can pave ways for a much better education system.
• This approach is scientific and practical which could provide a competitive spot to India in the world. India shall be able to come at par, if not excel education standards of the leading countries of the world. This would also mean that the talent of the country shall be fully utilized through the education system.
• If the implementation is successful, then there could be more diversity expected in Indian Schools, as a result of an influx of students from South Asia and elsewhere. Though, it doesn’t directly affect students or education, it shall sensitive Indian students from other cultures and races and make them better, informed citizens.
• The focus on practical education will ensure a smooth demand and supply in the job market. Prospective employers shall already possess the requisite skills and therefore, time and energy spent in training could be utilized otherwise in productive spheres. This could largely benefit the recruiters and the employees and thus benefit the entirety of the job market.

Having provided all the facts on the NEW EDUCATION SYSTEM OF INDIA (NEW EDUCATION POLICY 2020) and my personal opinions, I leave it to you to take your own stand in the matter and decide for yourself whether it is beneficial or not.

Is Indian Education system changing?

Which is the best education system in India?

These are some of the questions we would want you to answer. So get going, fellas!

ALSO READ: http://woketofind.com/top-5-ways-to-motivate-yourself-how-to-motivate-yourself/

CONTENT CURATION : Priya Arora