After various commissions and policies, in 1961, the Indian Union government formed an autonomous organization, named ‘National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’ that would advise the Union and State governments on planning and planting education policies. The government announced the first National Policy on Education in 1968, which proposed equality of education to enhance economic development.
Education policy consists of the principles and strategies in the education department and the stack of rules and regulations that manages the operations of education systems.
Education is in many forms, for various purposes, and pursued through different institutes. It includes early schooling from kindergarten to 12th standard, colleges, graduations, job training, etc. Hence, Education Policy directly affects the people involved at various stages.
The new Indian Education Policy replaced the old norms on Wednesday, 29-July-2020, which aims to transform India’s education system with the vision of a better future. It was framed for elementary to higher education including vocational training, and essential learning applies to urban as well as rural India. The purpose of the National Education Policy is to shape human beings to be capable of logical thinking, creative imagination along with ethical and moral values.
Major highlighted reforms from the new National Education Policy -
Single Regulator - The four distinct functions, management, accreditation, finance, and academic, will be performed independently. The regulatory system of higher education will ensure that the four institutional structures work at the same time and with synergy towards common goals. These four verticals will perform freely under one umbrella, says the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).
No Language Barrier - As the research says, 85% of the growth of a child’s brain development occurs within six years of age. With the new Pedagogical and Curricular Structure, special attention will be given to the local languages and culture. Under the School Education section, children will be motivated to learn various languages, and there won’t be any compulsion to study any particular language until Grade 5. This will increase the literacy ratio in rural areas.
Multidisciplinary Education - The borders of science and arts have been removed. According to the new policy, students can choose any additional subject as per their interests, irrespective of their streams. The Secondary Stage will cover four years of multidisciplinary study (from Grade 9 to 12) with greater depth, greater critical thinking, greater attention to life aspirations, and greater flexibility and preference of subjects.
Vocational Education - To enhance creativity and rational thinking, students will be encouraged to pursue courses of their interest related to art, craft, pottery making, gardening, carpentry, etc. to strengthen their extra-curricular skills.
Conceptual Learning - Renewed emphasis on constructive learning instead of rote memorization will lead to more regular and formative assessment. It will test the higher-order skills such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity.
Ethical Learning - The new policies aim to increase the nation’s tradition and cultural values. The education system will promote the learning of various languages, local arts, agriculture to benefit students and preserve the regional heritage and professions.
Multiple Entry/Exit Points - There are students who are not able to complete their studies due to various factors such as financial crisis, family responsibilities, etc. will get a chance to continue their course from the point they left. Also, as per the new norms, the ‘Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)’ will be designed to record the details of all the students in terms of points. If the student drops out after the first year of study, a certificate will be given. When it is after two years, they will get a diploma degree, and when the student completes the three years, they will be provided a bachelor's degree. While, after the completion of four years, they will receive complete course certification.
This is not all, there will be various changes made at each step and organizational levels of the Education System, like, Make-over of Report Cards, Digitalization of education to flow it through the rural areas of the country, Expansion of Education from basic knowledge to the in-depth and effective learning, the fee structure will be modified, and skill-based study will be promoted.
The curricular and pedagogical structure and the curricular framework for school education will, therefore, be guided by a 5+3+3+4 design (instead of 10+2), consisting of the Foundational Stage (in two parts, that is, 3 years of Anganwadi/pre-school + 2 years in a primary school in Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5, covering ages 8-11), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8, covering ages 11-14), and Secondary Stage (Grades 9-12 in two phases, i.e., 9 and 10 in the first and 11 and 12 in the second, covering ages 14-18).
A more detailed language strategy, amendment, and execution process would be released in the National Curriculum Framework in 2021. To know the complete NEP 2020, click here.
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