By Udbhav Bhargava
The New Education policy (NEP) 2020 shares ideas to revamp education, teaching and assessment systems in schools, colleges. Two changes it envisions have sought most attention of students and parents across the country.
- The 10+2 system will be divided into 5+3+3+4 format.
- NEP expands age group 6-14 years of mandatory schooling to 3-18 years of schooling.
NEP on Board Examinations
Board exams will start for grades 10 and 12, but they will be of low value. The focus will be on concept testing and the application of knowledge. Students will get a second opportunity to improve their score at boards. Students will be able to select many of the disciplines and the ‘level’ at which they will take Board examinations. No hard distinction can take place between ‘curricular,’ ‘extracurricular,’ or ‘co-curricular,’ between ‘arts,’ ‘humanities,’ and ‘sciences,’ or between ‘vocational’ or ‘academic’ streams. In the same point, co-curriculum and vocational subjects such as athletics, music, commerce, science will be dealt with. Students may choose to take courses according to their preferences. Peer and instructor feedback will be infused in the schooling system along with inculcation of skills such as interpretation, logical thinking and conceptual clarity.
When will the change take place?
The reform of the school curriculum will come in the form of a new National Curricular Structure for School Education, to be implemented by the National Council for Educational Study and Training
Language importance in NEP
The NEP relies on the mother tongue of the students as the medium of instruction. “Wherever possible, the teaching medium shall be the home language, the mother tongue, the local language or the regional language until at least Grade 5 but ideally until Grade 8 and beyond. The home or local language shall consequently continue to be taught as a language wherever possible. Public and private schools will carry on from this. Research indicates that children are extremely quick to pick up languages between the ages of 2 and 8 and that multilingualism has significant cognitive benefits for young students, children should be exposed to multiple languages early on. The ‘Three language rule’ will proceed but there will be no language forced on anyone. It should be Indian, in at least two of the three languages. The NEP recommends only the mother tongue as an instructional medium, and does not make it obligatory. When the Center published the initial NEP draft in May 2019, it included a clause stipulating Hindi ‘s teaching as part of the school ‘s three-language formula. The Center soon released a revised phrasing of the clause following a backlash by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and other states. Common entrance exam for admissions
The National Testing Agency ( NTA) will administer a Joint Entrance Exam (CEE) for university admissions across the country. A general aptitude test will be held at least twice a year, as well as comprehensive specific subject tests in sciences, humanities, languages, music, and vocational subjects.
Professional Education
Indian Higher Education Commission(HECI) will be formed as a single general umbrella body for entire higher education, except medical and legal education.
Reforms for HIE
To step towards a system of higher education consisting of broad, multidisciplinary universities and colleges. Those institutions offering single streams must be phased out and that all universities and colleges must aspire to become multidisciplinary by 2040. At least one university in or close every HEI district across India offering local/Indian language medium of instruction or programs. Moving towards faculty and institutional autonomy; revamping curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and student support for improved student experience; reaffirming the dignity of faculty and institutional leadership roles through merit appointments and career advancement based on teaching, research, and service. Establishment of a National Research Foundation to fund excellent peer-reviewed work in universities and colleges and actively seed work. Governance for higher education institutions should pursue a “light but strong” approach to regulation by a single central higher education regulator.
4 year Courses
FYUP – Four Year Undergraduate Program Multiple Exit Options Academic Credit Bank for the digital collection of academic credits received from various HEIs so that they can be transferred to the final degree earned. The phasing-out of college affiliation in 15 years and a phase-wise mechanism for granting graded autonomy to colleges shall be established.
The Big Picture it envisions
The NEP offers only a specific path and is not necessary. Since education is a subject on the concurrent list, the proposed reforms can only be implemented in collaboration between the Center and the states. The government has set a 2040 target for the full policy to be implemented.
Eduindex News 