In hopes of making Indian education at par with the International standards, National Education Policy was implemented in India in the year 2020.
After years of long debates and consultation we finally possess the chance to take our academic system a step higher.
Here’s all you need to know about the policy:
1. Schooling from the age of three:
Earlier through the Right to Education (RTE) act compulsory education was given to the children between ages 6-14 years. Now in accordance with NEP the age for mandatory education changed to between 3-18 years.
The new system includes 12 years of schooling with three years of pre-schooling.
2. 5+3+3+4 structure:
The existing10+2 structure is replaced with 5+3+3+4 structure in-order to meet the developmental needs and interests of the students at various stages.
· Foundational stage – it consists of 3 years of pre-schooling along with grade 1 and 2.
· Preparatory stage- it includes grades 3 to 5.
· Middle stage- grades 6 to 8 fall in this category
· Secondary stage- it is the final stage which includes grade 9 to 12.
3. Vocational education and internships from grade 6:
Vocational education equips children with new skill sets. Opportunities to learn carpentry, gardening, pottery, painting, sewing, baking to name a few are now made possible!
Internships at a young age enables students to test out their abilities and grow more confident as a person.
They also get a chance to explore more and soar beyond their boundaries.
4. Mix and match the subjects:
Under NPE, students can choose subjects of their liking across streams. There will be no separation between arts and sciences, between vocational and academic streams and between curricular and extra-curricular activities.
All the subjects are given equal importance and validity.
5. Mother tongue as the medium of instruction:
Students who find it difficult to follow up with a subject can opt for learning in their mother tongue.
It is just an option for slow learners to grasp concepts faster; it’s not made compulsory.
6. No more board exam domination:
Board exams for Grades 10 and 12will be redesigned and a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), will be set up as a standard-setting body.
7. Reduction in curriculum:
The syllabus in all the subjects will be reduced to its core essentials thus eradicating the need of rote learning.
The primary focus will shift to critical thinking, experimental learning and classroom interaction. Students will also only be assessed based on these skills.
8. Introducing technology:
According to NEP, use of technology for teaching, learning, assessing and planning is encouraged. Students can even have access to e-content in various languages.
Friendly educational software and virtual labs will be established in schools for abetter interactive-learning experience.
9. Education for gifted children:
NEP ensures learning be provided to children with disabilities and also for socially and economically disadvantaged groups.
It clearly states that children with disabilities will be able to attend regular school from the foundational stage to higher education, with support of educators with cross-disability training and technology-based tools tailored to suit their needs.
Apart from this special education zones will also beset up in the disadvantaged regions.
10. An academic bank of credit:
The Academic Bank of Credit is aimed at offering students flexibility and ample opportunities to choose the best combination with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary courses.
It can digitally store the credits earned by the students from doing non- core courses in other renowned Higher Education Institutions and is bound to come in handy when teenagers search for jobs.
11. 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035:
GER determines the number of students enrolled in a given level of education. NEP aims to shoot up the GER to 50% by the year 2035.
India's GER improved to 27.1% in 2019-20 from 26.3% in 2018-19 for 18-23 age group. So it must be around 29% for the year 2021-22.
12. College entrance examinations:
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct common entrance exams for all the colleges throughout India similar to how NEET is conducted every year for medicine and JEE for engineering.
The government of India aims to finish setting up NPE by the year 2040. Till the targeted year, the focus of GOI is to implement the plans one at a time to avoid chaos.
Let’s hope it brings in the era of change, growth, and development for India.
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