Essay on National Educaiton Policy 2020 for Descriptive Paper

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Introduction

The New Education Policy (NEP 2020) was released by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) which is now the Ministry of Education, on 29th July 2020, after it was approved by the Union Cabinet. It replaces the 34-year-old National Education Policy (NEP 1986). It was first formulated in 1986 and subsequently revised in 1992 and 1998.

The NEP-2020 is a welcome step towards revamping the education system in the country to become a global knowledge superpower.

It aims at the universalization of education from pre-school to secondary level with a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in schooling by 2030.

It has also proposed some changes like the opening of Indian higher education in foreign universities, the introduction of a four-year multidisciplinary undergraduate program with several exit options, etc.

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Need of NEP 2020

More than three decades have passed since the last education policy was released. The NEP-1986 and its modifications in 1992 were suitable to their times. But now, many changes have taken place in society, economy, country, and world.

Experts feel that most of the education given in schools and colleges and skills acquired worldwide today will not be useful in the next 30 years. That is the scale and speed of evolution we are going through. Therefore, our education system also needs to gear itself for the 21st century.

The earlier system of education was basically focused on learning and giving results. The students were judged by the marks attained. This was a unidirectional approach to development. But the new education policy focuses on the relevance of a multi-disciplinary approach. It aims at the all-round development of the student.

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Transformation in School Education

• The 10+2 module is replaced by 5+3+3+4 model.
• Foundational Stage (5): 3 years pre-schooling/Anganwadi + classes 1-2, with ages 3-8 years.
• Preparatory Stage (3): It constitutes of classes 3-5, with ages 8-11 years.
• Middle Stage (3): It constitutes of classes 6-8, with ages 11-14 years.
• Secondary Stage (4): It constitutes classes 9-12, with ages 14- 19 years.
• Secondary stage will be linked with the choice of multi-disciplinary study.
• The students have to give exams only thrice i.e. in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th classes.
• Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH), an assessment body has to be established for assessing students’ performance.

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Transformation in Higher Education

• The bachelor's programme would be a 4-year programme with a flexible exit.
• Obtaining 1-year course will provide with a certification.
• Obtaining 2-year course will provide with a diploma degree.
• Obtaining 3-year course will provide with a bachelor's degree.
• The 4-year course will be integrated with the research work and finding related to the subject studied.
• Master of Philosophy courses to discontinue, as it was an intermediate course between Masters and Ph.D.
• Foreign universities to set up their campuses in our country and vice versa.
• National Research Foundation (NRA) to be developed to foster research and innovations.

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Advantages/highlights

To make the board exams of classes 10 and 12 easier, the core competencies have to be tested instead of memorized facts, all students are allowed to take the exam twice.

Earlier 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.

There will be no rigid separation between educational and vocational streams. Vocational education will begin in class sixth with an internship.

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 continuing later.

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Disadvantages/concerns

The implementation of the language is a big challenge. The child will be taught in a regional language up to grade 5 and therefore will have less approach towards the English language, which is required after completing 5th grade.

Admission to foreign universities will lead to the migration of skilled Indian teachers and is also expected to make the education system more expensive.

NEP 2020 doesn't fulfill the gap between the knowledge/skills imparted and the jobs available in the market. This has been one of the main challenges that have affected the Indian education system since Independence.

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Possible solutions/way forward

With unequal access to technology, it can also expand the gap between the haves and have-nots. Thus, the state needs to address this disparity for the universalization of education.

The BharatNet scheme needs to be extended to include digital infrastructure for public and private schools throughout the nation.

There is an emphasis on vocational training, but to make it effective, there has to be close coordination among the ministries of HRD, skill development, and labor.

The policy of a multi-disciplinary approach in higher education is welcome but a foolproof framework needs to be created so that the core interests and preferred knowledge streams are not neglected.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that this policy is an essential initiative to help in the all-around development of our society and country. There was actually a need for change to the existing education policy. The policy has many positive features but the same can only be achieved by strictly making it happen.

The success of this new education policy will depend on how it is implemented. Therefore, it can be said that India is the country with the youngest population and India’s future will depend on providing high-quality educational opportunities to these youth.