National Education Policy 2020: Revolution in education sector

Government of India has given its approval for new education policy of the year 2020. This will bring massive changes in education sector and pave its way for key reforms in school and in higher education also. The Ministry of Human Resource and Development has been renamed as Education Ministry. First National Policy on Education came in1968 on the recommendations of Kothari Commission. Then comes National Policy on Education 1986 and now after 34 years we have National Education Policy 2020. This policy is drafted by the panel headed by former ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan.

Key Features:

Its prominent feature is the replacement of 10+2 structure of school curricula with 5+3+3+4 structure.

Existing Academic Structure- in this we have 10years of schooling from class 1-10, after that student has to go for pre university schooling.

New Academic Structure- now the 1986 structure is been replace by 5+3+3+4 structure for transforming educational sector. In this new structure, it has four stages-

1.  Foundational stage (5)- this stage is divided into two compartments. The first 3 years is of pre school belonging to age group of 3-6years. They are made to taught language skills, cognitive skills and is activity and play based learning. Next two years of class 1 and 2.
2. Preparatory stage (3)- belongs to age group of 8-11years and classes 3 to 5. Most of the student will be taught in local language or in mother tongue. This stage is more about discovery, activity and interactive classroom learning.
3. Middle stage (3)- belongs to age group 11-14years and classes 6 to 8. Students will start learning about coding and occasional activities. This will be first time that all the students after 6^th will be taught computer coding.
4. Secondary stage(4)- this stage is multidisciplinary in nature. Greater critical thinking and more flexibility will be given to students. Students would able to select choice of subjects.

Apart from it, teachers are a important factor of educational sector. Now, the govt is emphasising to control pupil-teacher ratio and to hire local and trained teachers.

Multi-disciplinary approach:

Standalone higher education institutes and professional education institutes will be evolved into multidisciplinary approach. The policy drafted multidisciplinary Bachelor’s programme with exit options. Lets consider B.Sc. programme, when student complete his first year and if he want to exit then he will be awarded with the certificate. After finishing 2 years he will be awarded with diploma and after 3 years he will handed over Bachelor’s degree. In case, it is four year degree, then student will enter into research and at end of four year, he will get research certificate as well. In Master’s, student will have to show all these four documents or certificates and we will able to finish his Master’s in one year only. M.Phil. degree would be abolished.

UGC and AICTE will now be replaced by Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) which will carry out all the functions of regulation, funding and learning outcomes in higher education.

Phasing out of all institutions offering single streams: we have IIT’s, they focus on science and technology but now by 2040 IIT’s and other higher education institutes will also focus on arts and commerce related subjects also.

National Educational Technology Forum (NETF): This forum is made to provide the platform for free exchange of ideas and strengthen learning with the use of technology.

Paving the way for foreign universities: but this comes up with criticism also. One is related to higher fees and second is these universities will starts poaching the educators and intellectual minds of country.

SIGNIFICANCE

·As recommended in Kothari Commission, govt. will spend 6% of GDP on education

·Govt will also put a cap on the fees of private institutions to make education affordable for maximum people.

·Learning will become less stressful.

·No rigid separation of subject.

·Govt brings Gender Inclusion Fund as equity measure.