National Education Policy 2020

NEP 2020- An important step towards making education accessible to all.

The main motto of NEP- “Equitable and Inclusive Education” assures that no child should be denied access to a quality education because of their socio-cultural background.

 

The introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, after three decades has been one of the biggest highlights in the Indian education industry. It is a comprehensive policy that emphasises universities’ multidisciplinary & multimode approaches, and education backed by technology. The new NEP has completely altered the administrative structure of the educational system in India. It focuses on character and skill development in order to help students succeed in life.

The NEP recommends implementing census-based exams (tests administered on every child in school) in Grades 3, 5, and 8. If implemented well, these exams may be a great source of data. But because they are administratively cumbersome to implement, it may be several years before data from these exams can be fully trusted. To fill the gap, the central government should implement a sample-based survey—where a random sample of students is selected—of learning outcomes which includes urban areas and private school students. In implementing this survey, the central government should learn from the experience of the NAS to ensure that the data is of sufficiently high quality to track progress at the state level.

 

Reforms in School Education

 

·        The 10+2 board structure will be dropped, and now new structure will be 5+3+3+4.

·        As per the new guidelines, up to 5th it will be preschool, 6 to 8th will  be Mid School and 8 to 11th High school while 12th onward is Graduation.

·        Students can select the vocational courses after 6th Standard and from 8th to 11th students can choose Subjects of their choices.

·        There will be provision of Major and Minor subjects in all the graduation courses.

·        The aim is changed from rote learning to test the core knowledge of the subject of a student.

·        It is decided that the Mother Tongue will be the language of teaching till the 5th Grade. The three-language formula will be applicable, and Sanskrit will be given as option till higher level of Education. 

·        States will be free to choose the languages of their choice, and nothing will be force on them.

·        Report card of a student will not have academics marks of a student’s instead it will comprehensively report on the Skills and capabilities of the student.

·        The aim of National Mission is to focus on the basic Literacy and basic numeracy.

·        There will be no rigid separation between the stream instead Major changes have been done in the pedagogical structure of curriculum.

·        Any barriers will also be removed between vocational and academic and curricular and extra-curricular.

 

 

Points to remember

 

·        There will be new National Curriculum framework for ECE, Teachers and Adults.

·        Board examination will be based on Knowledge Application.

·        The student progress will be timely tracked for achieving learning outcomes.

·        A National assessment Centre was setup named PARAKH.

·        The National Testing Agency will offer commong Entrance Exam for Admission to HEIs.

·        There will be National Professional Standards for Teachers ( NPST)

·        The curricular will be set up in such a way to integrate 21st Century skills, Mathematical Thinking and Scientific temper.

·        The gifted children will be brought in aligned with the current school education system.

·        The curriculum will be reduced to core concepts only.