National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

(national)National Education Policy

Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) The National Education Policy 2020 is based on the recommendations of a committee chaired by former Isro chief K Kasturirangan.
(2) NEP 2020 replaces former 10+2 structure of school curricula by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure.
(3) NEP 2020 aims to raise Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education from current 26.3% to 50 % by 2035.
(4) NEP 2020 increases the public investment in Education sector to 6% of GDP from current 4.6 percent.
Of the above incorrect statement/s is/are:
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1&2
(d) None of the above
Answer: (d)
Related facts:

  • On 29 July 2020, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the National Education Policy 2020.
  • The policy targets making way for large scale, transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.
  • The policy aims to make “India a global knowledge superpower”.
  • This policy will replace the National Policy on Education (NPE),1986.
  • Prior to 1986, the first National Education Policy was released in 1968 on the basis of recommendations of Kothari Commission.

Consultations:

  • The National Education Policy 2020 is based on the recommendations of a committee chaired by former Isro chief K Kasturirangan.

Renaming of MHRD:

  • The Cabinet has also approved the renaming of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to the Ministry of Education.

School Education:

  • Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % GER in school education by 2030.
  • NEP 2020 will bring 2 crore out of school children back into the main stream.
  • The 10+2 structure of school curricula is to be replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively.
  • This will bring the hitherto uncovered age group of 3-6 years under school curriculum, which has been recognized globally as the crucial stage for development of mental faculties of a child.
  • The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/ pre schooling.
  • NCERT will develop a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early ChildhoodCare and Education (NCPFECCE) for children up to the age of 8.
  • NEP 2020 calls for setting up of a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by MHRD as a necessary prerequisite to learning.
  • There will be no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, vocational streams in schools; Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Internships.
  • A new and comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education, NCFSE 2020-21, will be developed by the NCERT.
  • Teaching upto at least Grade 5 is to be in mother tongue/ regional language.
  • Assessment reforms has been made with 360 degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking Student Progress for achieving Learning Outcomes.
  • All students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which will be conducted by the appropriate authority. Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 will be continued, but redesigned with holistic development as the aim.
  • 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 .
  • Special emphasis will be given on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups(SEDGs).
  • This includes setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund and also Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.
  • Every state/district will be encouraged to establish “BalBhavans” as a special day-time boarding school, to participate in art-related, career-related, andplay-related activities.

Higher Education:

  • Gross Enrollment Ratio in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035 from current 26.3%; 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education.
  • There will be Holistic Multidisciplinary Education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education and multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification.
  • UG education can be of 3 or 4 years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification within this period. For example, Certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, Bachelor’s Degree after 3 years and Bachelor’s with Research after 4 years.
  • M.Phil courses will be discontinued and all the courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD level will now be interdisciplinary.
  • An Academic Bank of Credit is to be established for digitally storing academic credits earned from different HEIs so that these can be transferred and counted towards final degree earned.
  • Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), at par with IITs, IIMs, to be set up as models of best multidisciplinary education of global standards in the country.
  • The National Research Foundation will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education.
  • Higher Education Commission of India(HECI) will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body the for entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education.
  • HECI to have four independent verticals – National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, General Education Council (GEC ) for standard setting, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and National Accreditation Council( NAC) for accreditation.
  • Affiliation of colleges is to be phased out in 15 years and a stage-wise mechanism to be established for granting graded autonomy to colleges.
  • Over a period of time, every college is expected to develop into either an autonomous degree-granting College, or a constituent college of a university.

Teacher Education:

  • A new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE) 2021, will be formulated by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in consultation with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
  • By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
  • A common National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) will be developed by the National Council for Teacher Education by 2022, in consultation with NCERT, SCERTs, teachers and expert organizations from across levels and regions.

Other Significant Reforms:

  • An autonomous body, the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, administration.
  • NEP recommends setting an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI), National Institute (or Institutes) for Pali, Persian and Prakrit to ensure the preservation, growth, and vibrancy of all Indian languages.
  • Internationalization of education will be facilitated through both institutional collaborations, and student and faculty mobility and allowing entry of top world ranked Universities to open campuses in our country.
  • Increase the public investment in Education sector to 6% of GDP. Currently, India spends around 4.6 % of its total GDP on education.

By-Amar Mani Upadhyay

Links:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1642049