New Education Policy 2020 that aims for an impartial knowledge community and to reshuffle the country’s present education system was approved by Union Cabinet and launched at 4 pm, July 29, 2020. The vision of New Education Policy (NEP) is to contribute to an education system for “an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high-quality education to all.”
The draft of NEP was made public last year for suggestions from various stakeholders involved with education sector. A panel formed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan had framed the draft and submitted to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal whose three-language paradigm, board examination for class V and VIII and four-year B.Ed programme faced swift opposition from various quarters.
NEP 2020 seeks to make “India a global knowledge superpower.” The new academic calendar following the tenets of NEP 2020 will commence around September-October—an unprecedented delay due to COVID-19 pandemic.
In a bid to better regulate and govern, the NEP will revamp the entire structure on which the Indian education system rests. However, the fundamentals will remain in sync with the country’s traditional value systems.
Key Highlights of NEP 2020
- Instiling inclusivity and diversity as the cornerstone of all educational decisions.
- Accommodating every student below 5-year-old into “Preparatory Class”
- Reinstating universal access to education, NEP has set an objective to enhance participation in free, safe and mandatory school education for children aged 3-18 years by 2020.
- Introducing students to the classical languages of India by introducing a course on “The Languages of India” for classes VI-VIII of public and private schools. During the tenure of this course, students will be acquainted with the richness of classical language and provided the option to continue with it in secondary education and university.
- Restructuring of curriculum to make room for critical thinking and experimental learning.
- Ensuring mental and physical well-being of students by imbibing a caring and holistic culture into schools’ learning environment.
