The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the National Education Policy 2020 today, making way for large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors. Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21 st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.
School Education
=> Education with new Curricular and Pedagogical Structure:
With the emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education, the 10+2 structure of school curricula is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively. The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/
pre-schooling.
NCERT will develop a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCPFECCE) for children up to the age of 8. The planning and implementation of ECCE will be carried out jointly by the Ministries of HRD, Women and Child Development (WCD), Health and Family Welfare (HFW), and Tribal Affairs.
=> Reforms in school curricula and pedagogy:
Students will have increased flexibility and choice of subjects. There will be no rigid separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extracurricular activities, between vocational and academic streams.
> Vocational education will start in schools from the 6 th grade, and will include internships.
> A new and comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education, NCFSE 2020-21, will be developed by the NCERT.
=> Multilingualism and the power of language:
The policy has emphasized mother tongue/local language/regional language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. Sanskrit to be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option for students, including in the three-language formula. No language will be imposed on any student. Several foreign languages will also be offered at the secondary level.
=> Assessment Reforms:
NEP 2020 envisages a shift from summative assessment to regular and formative assessment, which is more competency-based, promotes learning and development, and tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity.
> All students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which will be conducted by the appropriate authority.
> Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 will be continued, but redesigned with holistic development as the aim.
> A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), will be set up as a standard-setting body.
=> Robust Teacher Recruitment and Career Path:
Teachers will be recruited through robust, transparent processes. A common National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) will be developed by the National Council for Teacher Education by 2022, in consultation with NCERT, SCERTs, teachers and expert organizations from across levels and regions.
Higher Education
=> Financing Education:
The Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in the Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.
=> Increase GER to 50 % by 2035:
NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. 3.5 Crore new seats will be added to Higher education institutions.
=> Holistic Multidisciplinary Education:
The policy envisages broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic Under Graduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education, and multiple entries and exit points with appropriate certification.
> UG education can be of 3 or 4 years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification within this period.
> Certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, Bachelor’s Degree after 3 years and Bachelor’s with Research after 4 years.
> The National Research Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education.
=> Regulation:
Higher Education Commission of India(HECI) will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body for the entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education. HECI to have four independent verticals -
> National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation,
> General Education Council (GEC ) for standard-setting,
> Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and
> National Accreditation Council( NAC) for accreditation.
=> Teacher Education:
A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, NCFTE 2021, will be formulated by the NCTE in consultation with NCERT.
> By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
=> Mentoring Mission:
A National Mission for Mentoring will be established, with a large pool of outstanding senior/retired faculty.
=> Technology in education:
An autonomous body, the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, administration.
=> Promotion of Indian languages:
To ensure the preservation, growth, and vibrancy of all Indian languages, NEP recommends setting an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI), National Institute (or Institutes) for Pali, Persian and Prakrit, strengthening of Sanskrit and all language departments in HEIs, and use mother tongue/local language as a medium of instruction in more HEI programs.
Consultations:
NEP 2020 has been formulated after an unprecedented process of consultation that involved nearly over 2 lakh suggestions from 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 6600 Blocks, 6000 ULBs, 676 Districts.
In June 2017 a ‘Committee for the Draft National Education Policy’ was constituted under the Chairmanship of eminent Scientist Padma Vibhushan, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, which submitted the Draft National Education Policy, 2019 to the Hon’ble Human Resource Development Minister on 31 st May 2019. The Draft National Education Policy 2019 was uploaded on MHRD’s website.
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