Do you know about National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020)? Have you ever heard about it? Do you have the curiosity to know? If your answers to these queries are yes, then you are on the right page. The New Education Policy 2020 has replaced the old education policy of India.
The impact of the NEP 2020 on the education system can be seen in a positive direction as it aims to deliver holistic learning experiences to students. The New Educational Policy 2022 focuses on five essential pillars: Affordability, Equity, Access, Quality and Accountability. In addition, the new curriculum will include the following:
- Focus on key skills
- Ensure practical, critical, and experimental thinking
- Previous curriculum content will be reduced.
- Flexibility to choose subjects.
- Internships for a vocational programme will be given from the 6th– class onwards.
The new policy aims to ensure that students have all the opportunities to study and excel because of their circumstances or background. As per the ministry, National Education Policy 2020 focuses on enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in education, including vocational education, from 26.3% in 2018 to 50% by 2035.
New National Educational Policy 2020 – An Overview
The Union Cabinet of India has approved the new National Education Policy 2020 to introduce numerous educational system changes – from the school to the college level. The National Education Policy makes India a global choice for learning by turning it to a dynamic, varied, and high-quality education hub.
The policy also increases the focus on reforming the existing exam system, strengthening teacher training and early childhood care and restructuring the regulatory framework of learning. According to NEP, to be an educator in a school, you must possess a B.Ed degree. Have a look at some points which define why this change is necessary for the Indian education system-
- NEP aims to make “India a universal learning superpower”.
- The Union Cabinet has approved renaming the Ministry of Human Resource Development to the Ministry of Education (MoF).
- The two old policies were brought in 1968 and 1986.
The New Education Structure – 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 Foundation Formula
The New Education Policy makes education more equitable, accessible and inclusive to all, with a special emphasis on marginalised communities. It focuses on providing education access to all levels, from preschool to higher education.
But one of the essential shifts introduced by the NEP 2020 is the transition from the 10+2 structure to a new 5+3+3+4 structure.
5 Years of Foundational – For Ages: 3 to 8
- For classes 1 – 2: Anganwadi or pre-school
- Focus on multilevel, flexible, activity- or play-based training methods and developing children’s language skills.
3 Years of Preparatory – For Ages: 8 to 11
- For classes: 3 to 5 – Focus on foundational education and raising students’ basic numeracy and literacy skills.
- Subjects like Art, Mathematics and Science will be introduced to students.
3 Years of Middle – For Ages: 11 to 14
- For classes: 6 to 8 – Kids will study core academic skills and life skills.
- They will study the concepts of science, humanities, arts, mathematics and social sciences.
4 Years of Secondary – For Ages: 14 to 18
- For classes: 9 to 12 – In this stage, students will cover two phases: the first is Classes 9 and 10, and the second is Classes 11 and 12.
MoF launched the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat in July 2021 all over India. NIPUN Bharat Mission has been started to enable all children at the end of class 3rd to attain skills by the year 2026-2027. The Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
Altogether, the new policy emphasises developing and growing skills for the 21st century, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity. It also proposed the establishment of new schools, such as digital universities, and using technology to support kids in learning.
