New Education Policy 2020

After 3 – decades (34 years), India has a new education policy. It seeks to bring the education system of the country up to speed with the needs of the 21st century. Whether, we talk about technology, intervention, refreshed assessment system or about multiplier opportunity available for every student. This policy looks into all those issues. It is a very important and necessary change that our education system needs, although it is not a sudden change, it is a part of the manifesto of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. On October 31, 2015, the government formed a 5-member committee, headed by former Cabinet Secretary T.S.R Subramanian, to prepare a new education policy, the committee submitted its report on May 27, 2016. After this, on June 24, 2017, the committee of 9-members under the chairmanship of ISRO's former chief scientist Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan gave the responsibility of drafting the new education policy. The draft submitted to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on 31st May 2019. Then HRD Ministry asked for suggestions from people on draft national education policy, approx. 2 lakhs of people had given their suggestions. After that on 29th July 2020, the new education policy has been introduced. So, this is a brief history of the “New Education Policy 2020”.

We know that education is the tool for empowerment, for information and success for millions of youngsters in the country and abroad. The problems are the mother of need. The earlier education system had many flaws, according to which this new education policy seems to be right, but the biggest and the most important question is “how easy it is to land on the practical ground?” to understand this, we have to first understand what are the reasons for flaws of the current education system?

• Reason 1.

Our education sector is constantly struggling with a shortage of qualified teachers. The B.Ed. and D.El.Ed. college, who gave the training, has become strongholds of the college education mafia. Many of these colleges are such that doesn't actually exist, but provides the degrees with a lot. It can be easily understood what the teachers who get the training from here, will be able to teach the children?  This new education policy has been committed to break this tradition, now the National Council of Teacher Education will set professional standards for teachers and will also create a new syllabus for the teacher training program and due to which the minimum qualification for a teacher training program will be of 4 years integrated course. The success on this would have been achieved 3 years ago, but now it is being tried to implement it through this new policy.

• Reason 2.

It’s good to hear that this New Education Policy 2020 has focused on the early development of the child. Till date, Primary education was not given so much priority. We always talk about higher education, what difficulty that is faced by a higher-class student, but doesn’t focus on the child’s early education, which also results as improper education of the child. Many education’s policies state that for this, the education department and the Institute for the betterment of children will work together.

 

• Reason 3.

Another reason for the poor educational system is that it doesn't provide the correct assessment to the student. It does not indicate how much the student is learning from the current assessment process? For this, a national institute will be created which will be monitoring it from time to time. Till date, this was monitored by the NCERT.

 

• Reason 4.

This New Education Policy 2020 also aims to provide the early education in mother language/ regional language/ local language, which is a good step, although it will be difficult to implement it practically because Today, the number of teachers required in schools is not being appointed as much. Then imparting education in mother tongue will increase the need for teachers who know at least 2 languages. It is clear that apart from qualified teachers, they will also need sufficient funds, about which the new education policy does not clearly say anything.

• Reason 5.

Due to the towing Cassie for admission to higher education, i.e. college, university, in the 12th examination, the candidates have started getting the cent per cent marks in the language paper. As per the new education policy, the admission test will be conducted, so the pressure on the marks made by the candidates in the 10th and 12th standard will be reduced, this examination will be held at the national level so that the candidates can enroll in colleges and universities according to their ability.

 

• Reason 6.

The new education policy is giving adequate attention to post-curricular activities and vocational courses, this will develop the idea in the candidate to have a different thought process from the traditional one. In the coming years, it will develop an understanding that the possibility of getting a job by doing a vocational course is comparatively more than regular courses.

 

Obviously, New education policy is much more fascinating and helpful in abolishing problems, practically they are offering a half and incomplete solutions for it. The first problem is the lack of funds. Although the cabinet has decided to increase the education budget by 4.43% to 6% of the total GDP, the policy does not sustain on how the funding will be managed. It only assumes that the budget will be arranged in the coming years. So, the question still remains “HOW”? Keeping this pandemic in concern, the whole country is in crisis, meanwhile, we are well attuned about the ground reality for colleges and universities in the various places across the country. I think this new policy is nothing without reforming the infrastructure and having a qualified faculty member to enrich the knowledge of every student across the country. Through this blog, I also want, you pay your attention on the recent activity, that the Most Universities are focused on conducting the exams, but we know that this whole year is covered by the pandemic and due to which students are compelled to sit at their home. During this time, many students across the country didn’t study a single word, but not in every university, various universities have streamed their classes on online platforms, but not every college and university provides such facility to their students. So, if there will be an exam then most of the students will try to go through every topic by rote memorization. Apart from this NEP 2020 is against the rote process of learning.

So, What’s your prospect on this topic, please do mention in the comment box.

Thank You!!