What is the New Education Policy 2021

 Chapter 4

◆ What is the New Education Policy 2021 – क्या है नई शिक्षा नीति

With no major separation between academic streams, emphasis will be placed on extra-curricular, professional streams in schools, literacy, and numeracy. 

Vocational education from the sixth class will begin with training in the new National Education Policy 2020. 

Teaching in the mother tongue / regional language until the fifth level will be compulsory. With a comprehensive 360-degree progress card, improvement of assessment and tracking of student progress to achieve learning outcomes, etc. is also included.

◆ Who created NEP? – नई शिक्षा नीति 2020-21

A panel of experts led by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan has discussed the issues and changes that will happen in the Indian education system – from school to college to employment. These suggestions were compiled and approved by the Ministry.

◆ New Education Policy – The New School Education Structure, 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 Foundation Formula

Children in the first three years will receive pre-school education in Anganwadi. Then in the next two years, children will be taught in first and second classes in school. A new curriculum will be prepared for these five years of study. The focus will be largely on activity-based learning. It will cover children between three and eight years old. In this way, the first five years of studies will be completed.

• Preparatory stage At this stage, classes three to five will be studied. During this time, children will be taught science, mathematics, arts, etc. through experiments. Children from 8 to 11 years old will be covered.

•  Middle Stage – classes 6-8 will be covered, children aged 11-14 will be covered by these subject-based classes. Skills development courses will start in sixth grade.

• The secondary stage from the ninth to twelfth class will be studied in two phases, where an intensive study of the subjects will be conducted. There will also be the freedom to choose subjects.

Earlier this system was not in pre-school in government schools. There was a general education from first grade to 10. From grade 11, subjects could choose.

◆ Other important changes in school education – Salient Features of #NEP2020

Dr. Kasturirangan said, that vocational education, which grants professional knowledge from the sixth class itself, leads the committee that was formed to finalize the new education policy, and now the child will be given vocational education and skills from the sixth grade himself.

Internships will also be conducted at the local level. Emphasis will be placed on vocational education and skills development.

The new education policy will not create unemployment. At school, the child will be given the necessary professional education.

The tenth and twelfth Board exams will be easy. Major changes will be made to the Board exams for classes 10th and 12th.

The importance of the council’s exams will be underestimated. There are many important suggestions. Such as taking exams twice a year, and dividing them into two objective and explanatory sections.

The main focus of the council exam will be on the knowledge test so that students’ tendency to memorize ends.

Students are always under pressure with regard to council tests and rely on training to get more marks. But in the future, they can get freedom from it.

The education policy states that the various councils will prepare a practical model for board exams in the coming times. Such as annual and quarterly exams and units.

Under the new policy, exams will also be held in classes Three, Five, and Eight. While the exams for plates 10 and 12 will continue to be a variable.

Changes Made in Higher Education

• 50% Increase In GER

The NEP (new education policy) aims to increase the current GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) from 26.3% to 50 by 2035. According to the NEP, 3.5 crores of new higher education seats are expected to be added.

• Interdisciplinary general education

The policy provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and broad-based college education with flexible study plans, more choices in choosing subjects, including a focus more on vocational education, and more flexibility to enter and leave the course with an accredited degree. 

Undergraduates will now have the option to choose the number of years according to their requirements ranging from 1-4 years with the appropriate degree. For example, Certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, License after 3 years, Research License after 4 years.

Regulations or Systems 

The Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be established as a single and comprehensive coordinating body for all higher education, except medical and legal education. HECI will have four independent segments:

• The National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) regulates.

• General Education Council (GEC) for Standardization.

• Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) funding.

• National Accreditation Council (NAC) for accreditation.

HECI will operate through anonymous interference through technology and will have the ability to penalize higher education institutions that do not comply with the rules and standards.

◆ NEP 2020 is India’s third educational policy—the first, in 1968, was when education was on the Union list and the second, in 1986 (and PoA in 1992), was after it moved to the concurrent list through the 46th Constitutional amendment in 1976. 

NEP 2020 is hence a sandwiched response to an eventful 34-year educational reform and the next generation’s aspirational targets.

 The 1986 to 2020 edu-policy scripted its own success stories that ensured India’s rise in various parameters—school and gross enrolment ratio, role of private players for public good, leveraging the IT-Biotech boom, research capacity building, etc. 

Though left behind when compared to global peers, we have made a good start and reached this far. NEP 2020 is the much-needed catalyst to accelerate the reform process without losing the gathered steam.

Concluded.