All You Need to Know About the New National Education Policy 2020

The New Education Policy (NEP) was launched on July 29, 2020, after the Union Cabinet approved it. It’s basically one of the most significant announcements that the government has made this year. This policy was prepared by a panel of experts led by K Kasturirangan, former chief of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Besides, it was reviewed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

How the NEP 2020 was Formulated

As per the reports, this New Education Policy is formulated to mold the minds of young children, however, its actual impact will only be seen after several years. However, this policy has a commendable vision, but its potency will depend only on the fact of whether it can effectively integrate with the other policy initiatives taken by the government. This policy is launched to wean children away from private tuitions and overhaul the education system of the country. Among other things, the New Education Policy has also renamed the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) as the Ministry of Education.

 Thus, it can be said that it’s definitely a sign of changing focus on the country’s education.  

The NEP 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century that has replaced the 34-year old Nation Policy of Education (NPE) formulated in the year 1986 by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. With the formulation of this policy, it’s believed that it will bring certain transformational reforms in the country’s school as well as the higher education systems. In this blog, we’ve listed the key highlights of the New Education Policy 2020. But before we discuss the features, let’s look at the gaps in the education system of India. 

Identification of the Gaps in the Indian Education System

It’s a fact that what we usually study in schools and colleges is only based on fact-based learning and there’s no denying that it’s rarely relevant to one’s life as well as career. Besides, the knowledge we get there doesn’t play a major role in helping us get a good job. 

When it comes to the Indian Education System, it can easily be said that it’s majorly exam-centric. With students scoring high and colleges releasing the cut-offs, many students are there who are usually left out as they can’t sustain in this highly competitive ecosystem. 

The country’s education system is also criticized because if a student is pursuing Science would be left with either little or no knowledge of other streams such as commerce, Arts, and vice-versa. 

But to glaring up these gaps, the Modi Government has come up with a New Education Policy. Keep reading this post to learn about the key highlights of NEP 2020 that aims at addressing these shortcomings in the country’s education system.

NEP 2020 Transforming the Structure of Education System 

The policy proposes many structural changes in the early as well as the higher education system. It’s been developed after several consultations over the last five years with the stakeholders and the general public. NEP 2020 document says that it “aims at producing engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society”. 

Besides, there are some of the key phrases that are included in the policy document that is taken about eternal Indian knowledge. It’s been mentioned in the document that “the pursuit of knowledge (jnan), wisdom (pragyaa), and truth (satya) was always considered in Indian thought and philosophy as the highest human goal”. Therefore, with the new Education Policy, it’s being conveyed that it’s time to move the education towards more learning about how to be creative and critical while solving problems, how to be multidisciplinary, and how one can adapt, absorb, and innovate the material in varying fields. 

Well, if this New Education Policy is being executed keeping a focus on these pointers, then it can easily be said that it won’t just change the Indian Education System from the outer side but to the core. Now since you all learn about the main aims of the New Education Policy, let’s further discuss some of its key highlights and features. 

Reforms the NEP 2020 aims to Bring About 

The National Education Policy suggests several reforms to school as well as the high school education system. These reforms are as follows:

Education System in School

1. The New Education Policy aims at the universalization of education from preschool level to the secondary school level keeping in view the 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio by the year 2030.
   
2. With an open schooling system, it’s believed that NEP 2020 will bring back around 2 crores of school children into the mainstream. 
3. Instead of a 10+2 system in the school, the new 5+3+3+4 curriculum structure will be followed corresponding the ages 3 to 8, 8 to 11, 11 to 14, and 14 to 18 years respectively. It’s being considered that this new system in the school curriculum will bring uncovered students who are 3 to 6 years of age. It’s usually said that this age group has been recognized globally as the most crucial stage especially for the mental development of a child.
4. As per the recently announced education policy, there will be a total of 12 years of schooling with 3 years of pre-schooling / Anganwadi. 
5. The new policy gives special importance to the Foundational Numeracy and Literacy and there won’t be any hard separation between the academic, vocational, and extracurricular streams in schools. Besides, from 6th grade itself, there will be internships in vocational studies. 
6. Besides, as per the newly formulated education policy, the teaching up to class 5 will be done in either the mother tongue or the regional language. There won’t be any specific language imposed on any student. 
7. Regular assessment reforms with a 360-degree Holistic Progress Card and the progress of every student will be tracked to achieve the learning outcomes.
8. NCTE in consultation with NCERT will formulate a comprehensive and completely new National Curriculum Framework for the education of teachers. Besides, by the year 2030, the minimum qualification needed for teaching will be a 4-year B.Ed degree. 

Reforms to Higher Education

1. In higher-level education, there will be a 50% rise in the Gross Enrolment Ratio by the year 2035 and around 3.5 crores of seats to be added in higher education.
   
2. There’ll be flexibility of subjects in the curriculum for higher education. 
3. Various entry and exits will be allowed with relevant certification. 
4. To facilitate the transfer of credits, the Academic Bank of Credits will be established. 
5. There’ll be a single overarching body named, Higher Education Commission of India, that will be established for an entire high school education The medical as well the legal education won’t be included in this commission. 
6. In HECI, there will be four different and independent verticals and these verticals include National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulations, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, General Education Council for setting up the standards, and the National Accreditation Council (NAC) for authorities and official recognitions. 
7. In 15 years, the affiliation system is to phase out with several graded autonomies to institutions.

Other Important Facts to Know

1. The New National Education Policy 2020 is not framed keeping in mind the educational transformation in the schools and colleges, but several other facts have been considered as the major points. These facts are as follows:
2. The New Education Policy will also give importance to establishing the Special Education Zones for the regions and groups with disadvantages, Gender Inclusion Fund.

3. In both schools as well as colleges, New Education Policy will promote Multilingualism. For this reason, the Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation and the National Institute for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit will be established.

4. To increase the public investment in the education sector and take it up to 6% of GDP, the Centre as well as the States will work hand in hand.
   

Well, these are some of the key highlighting points about the recently announced and formulated the New National Education Policy (NEP 2020) in India. We hope that this policy will boost the employment rate in the country. Besides, we believe that with the implementation of this policy, there’ll be a radical transformation in India’s Educational Ecosystem.