Overview of new educational policy 2020
The Union Cabinet approved the National educational policy on 29 July 2020. Did you know? The change in the education system occurred after a gap of 34 years. NEP aims to provide high-quality education to all and make India a global Educational Superpower. The policy envisions not only the cognitive but also the fundamental development of each individual.
Three major changes in the NEP 2020 are:
1. The human resources department ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Education.
2. GDP investment in education increased from 1.6% to 6%
3. The focus on the gross enrolment ratio will be increased to 50% by 2035 from 26.3% in 2018.
The educational system is reconfigured to make education more experimental, holistic, engaging at the same time enjoyable. The four parts of the education policy 2020 are
· Part I School Education
· Part II Higher Education
· Part III Other key areas to focus
· Part IV Making it happen
Part I School Education:
Early childhood care and education: Old pedagogy 10 + 2 restructured to 5 + 3+ 3 + 4 system of school education. This design enables early childhood care and education from the age of 3 to 6, which are foundational years of learning. It includes the foundation stage (5 years), preparatory stage (3 years), middle stage (3 years), and secondary stage (4 years consisting of grades 9 to 12).
Foundational literacy and numeracy: To attain fundamental foundational literacy and numeracy in each student is a prerequisite for future learning. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is responsible to achieve this mission by 2025 in all primary schools as per NEP.
Other features:
- 3-month play-based ‘school preparation module’ for all grade 1 students
- Digital infrastructure for knowledge sharing DIKSHA
- Nutrition and health including the mental health of children will be taken into consideration in the schooling system.
Universal access to education at all levels: New NEP 2020 focuses on maximum enrolment through Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Right to Education Act, India, etc. The initiative has been taken to prevent drop out and bring back the dropped-out children to school, modifying the infrastructure to ensure the safety and engagement of students, increasing the number of schools in deficient areas.
Curriculum and pedagogy: The school curriculum pedagogy restructure in 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 design. in which
5 means 3 years of pre-primary + 2 years of primary school including grades 1 & 2, age group 3 to 8 years
3 means Grade 3 to 5, age group 3 to 8 years
3 means Grade 6 to 8, age group 8 to 11 years
4 means Grade 9 to 12, age group 11 to 14years
Holistic development students will be achieved through skill and value-based curriculum framework. The curriculum is bound to Core essentials and will enhance critical thinking and problem solving through interactive learning.
- Experiential learning and art integration are also a part of the new education policy in India.
- Academic, practical, and Co-curricular activities will get equal weightage, and a 360-degree progress card Will be provided to each student.
- Students have the flexibility to choose subjects of their choice, especially at the secondary school level. Sanskrit will be offered at all levels of school and higher education and delivered through the simple yet interesting syllabus.
- Multilingualism: Students can be instructed in their mother tongue up to 5th grade.
- To prevent high stakes of board exams, the system is reformed and eliminated amber taking coaching classes. students are allowed to select subjects as per their interest.
- NEP assimilated a holistic approach and simplified the board exams to evaluate the core capacity of students.
Teachers: Teachers are responsible to shape the next generation of our country hence their empowerment is of utmost importance.
- NEP proposes the minimum educational requirement of a teacher is 4 years integrated B. Ed by 2030.
- Excessive teacher transfers will be halted, transfers will occur only during special Circumstances
- All school teachers, principals are expected to engage 50 hours or more in continued professional development CPD modules as per their interest every year.
- Education policy 2020 states that the promotion of teachers should be merit-based as well as teachers with excellent leadership and management skills should be trained and promoted to the district or state level.
Equitable and inclusive education for everyone: The regions in which Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups (SDGs) are deprived of education should be declared as special education zones, (SEZs), where educational policies are implemented with additional efforts such as Gender Inclusion FUND. Through this fund quality education will be provided to girls and transgender students.
Efficient resourcing and effective governance through school complexes and clusters: Building school complexes or clusters and sharing resources to avail multiple benefits and improve support for children with disabilities. it will also improve the effectiveness and positive synergy of schools.
Standard setting and accreditation for school education: Public and private schools except those that are managed, added, or controlled by the central government, will be assessed and accredited on the same criteria, benchmarks, and processes.