NEW EDUCATION POLICY 2020
In every human being lives education is very significant. It helps in maintaining the socio economic framework. In ancient times children were taught in Gurukuls. Now in modern days we call it schools. Government has given its efforts to maintain the literacy rates in India since its independence. Various schemes have been launched by the government to improve the literacy rates.
On 29 July 2020, the new National Education Policy was declared by the Ministry of Education with an aim to achieve policy initiatives by 2030. The last time when this policy was changed was in the year 1986. After a gap of 34 years the government has brought the changes in the Indian Education System. The reason behind to replace it with the old one was to transform the Indian Education system to meet the needs of today’s world. This new policy aims to rectify the literacy rates linked with primary schools, reduce the dropout rates in middle and secondary schools and also to adopt the multi disciplinary approach. This will focus on concept based learning instead of rote learning. NEP 2020 aims to bring holistic change in the education system but its success depends on the will and the way it will be implemented.
This policy also provides early childhood care, assessments and exams and invests in teacher training. On paper the new education system seems to be good initiative but its success will depend on how it is going to be implemented. Now, the significances of National Education Policy 2020 are:
This policy is adopting a 5+3+3+4 model for school education starts from the age of 3 years. The policy helps to shape the child’s future from the age of 3 to 8 years.
Another key change this policy provides that it breaks the division of the streams into arts, commerce and science in high school.
Another commendable aspect of this policy is that it introduces vocational courses along with an internship. This will help in realization of Skill India Mission
This policy gives importance to our mother tongue, local language or the regional language the medium of instruction till grade 5 that is considered to be the best medium of teaching.
Top 100 universities in the world will be able to establish campuses in India that will our Indian Education System competitive and efficient.
Structural Transformation in New Education Policy
Foundational Stage: This will include pre schooling of 3 years.
Preparatory stage: This will include classes between 3-5 students ageing 8 to 11 years.
Middle stage: this will include classes between 6 to 8 students age between 11 to 14 years.
Secondary stage: It will constitute classes between 9 to 12 and student’s age between 14-19 years.
The students now have to give exams only three times that is in 3rd, 5th And 8th class. Also an assessment body will be constituted named “PARAKH” that will assess the student’s performance.
a) Higher Education
The bachelor’s programme which was of three years, now it will be of 4 years along with a flexible exit.
Higher Education Grants Council will be established instead of AICTE and UGC to provide funds and finances to universities and colleges.
National Testing Agency will hold common entrance exam for universities and colleges along with NEET and JEE.
Master of Philosophy will not be in function as it was intermediate course between Master’s and Ph.D.
National Research Foundation will be established for research and innovations.
b) Teacher’s Education and Recruitment
The 4 year B.Ed qualification will now be important for teaching.
Workshops will be organized for the teachers where they will be provided training along with several teaching aids.
Recruiting process now will be in transparent nature as teacher plays an important role for the development of a child.
On comparing the 1986 National Education Policy with the new one, the former was focused on modernizing the education sector using information technology. NEP 1986 was not successful to improve the quality of education. But the NEP 2020 focuses on the teacher learning by providing them research projects, fieldwork and training.
To successfully implement the National Education Policy
Creating of stakeholders incentives that will lead to the smooth and uniform implementation of the NEP.
Formulations need to be done on the basis of legal, policy, and institutional mechanisms.
Need to construct reliable repositories.
Need to develop credibility for all stakeholders and it must be transparent.
Need to form principles of management.
Looking to its beneficial aspects
This will help children to showcase their talents if they have any inborn talents.
In 1986 policy, students were having one option to opt but now they are having different subjects to opt. they are provided with other options too.
Main motto of this policy is to develop critical thinking, innovations and interaction power in students.
Now bachelor’s courses have an exit option that will provide opportunity to students to experience different skills and can continue it later.
This will help student to learn practical things apart from theoretical
Year 2040 is the target to become multidisciplinary for all the universities and institutions.
Way Forward
This new education policy aims to provide inclusive, participatory and holistic approach, that will consider field experiences, research work, stakeholder feedback, also lessons learned from best practices.
Now this policy will help students to learn with the scientific approach. The structure formed will aid child ability- social and physical awareness. If this policy implemented in its true vision then it will lead with the competitive countries.
Conclusion
The new education policy formulated with several benefits is really the need of the present scenario. This policy concerns the skill development along with study curriculum. So to implement this proper planning and working on is the major task to make this policy successful. Proper implementation will not make it successful but also lead our nation towards progress.
By Riya Kumari