India’s federal government cabinet on July 29 approved the draft of New Education Policy (NEP 2020), and also renamed the HRD Ministry as Education Ministry.
A panel led by former ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan had submitted the draft of the new education policy to Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ when he took charge last year.
The New Education Policy aims to revamp of all aspects of Indian education structure, to regulate and govern, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, while remaining consistent with India’s traditions and value systems.
The national education policy envisions an India centred education system that contributes directly to transforming nation sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high quality education to all.
The policy aims to universalise the pre-primary education (age range of 3-6 years) by 2025 and provide foundational literacy and numeracy for all by 2025.
It plans on reintegrating dropouts and ensure universal access to education, the NEP has set an objective to achieve access and participation in free and compulsory school education for all children in the age group of 3-18 years by 2030.
The policy proposes new Curricular and Pedagogical Structure, with 5+3+3+4 design covering the children in the age group 3-18 years. Under this (I) Five years of the Foundational Stage: 3 years of pre-primary school and Grades 1, 2; (II) Three years of the Preparatory (or Latter Primary) Stage: Grades 3, 4, 5; (III) Three years of the Middle (or Upper Primary) Stage: Grades 6, 7, 8 and (IV) Four years of the High (or Secondary) Stage: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12.
The new education policy aims to give students increased flexibility and choice of subjects to study across the arts, humanities, sciences, sports, and vocational subjects. Since children learn languages most quickly between 2-8 years, and multilingualism has great cognitive benefits for students, children will be immersed in three languages early on, from the Foundational Stage.
The three language formula, followed since the adoption of the National Policy on Education 1968, and endorsed in the National Policy on Education 1986/1992 as well as the NCF 2005, will be continued, keeping in mind the Constitutional provisions and aspirations of the people, regions, and the Union.
Every student in the country will take a fun course on “The Languages of India” sometime in Grades 6-8. For the enrichment of the children, and for the preservation of these rich languages and their artistic treasures, all students in all schools, public or private, will take at least two years of a classical language of India in Grades 6-8, with the option to continue through secondary education and university.
All students at all levels of school will have regular periods and opportunities to participate in physical activity and exercise, including sports, games, yoga, martial arts, dance, gardening, and more, in accordance with local availability of teachers and facilities.
An independent, state-wide, regulatory body called the State School Regulatory Authority will be created for each state.
A National Research Foundation will be established to grant competitive funding for outstanding research proposals across all disciplines, as determined by peer review and success of proposals.
The NEP aims to create a new apex body, the Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog or National Education Commission, headed by the Prime Minister of India. The penal will be responsible for developing, articulating, implementing, evaluating and revising the vision of education in the country.
The present complex nomenclature of HEIs in the country such as ‘deemed to be university’, ‘affiliating university’, ‘affiliating technical university’, ‘unitary university’ shall be replaced simply by ‘university’.
A university will mean a multidisciplinary institution that offers undergraduate and graduate programmes, with high quality teaching, research, and community engagement. The definition will allow a spectrum of institutions ranging from those that place equal emphasis on teaching and research i.e., Research-intensive Universities to teaching-intensive Universities.
The undergraduate degree will be of either 3 or 4-year duration, with multiple exit options. For instance, a certificate after completing one year in a discipline or field including vocational and professional areas, or a diploma after 2 years of study, or a Bachelor’s degree after a 3-year programme. The four-year multidisciplinary Bachelor’s programme, however, shall be the preferred option.
