National Education Policy, 2020

National Education Policy, 2020

Why in News?

The Union Cabinet has recently given its approval to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to introduce transformative changes in the Indian education system across all levels, from primary to higher education.

This policy aspires to establish India as a global knowledge hub and aligns with the government's vision of progressive reform. Additionally, the Cabinet has renamed the Ministry of Human Resource Development as the Ministry of Education, emphasizing its core focus.

Notably, this is the third comprehensive overhaul of India's education framework since independence, with earlier policies introduced in 1968 and 1986.

Key Highlights
School Education

1. Universal Access to Education:
   • Targets achieving 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) from preschool to secondary levels by 2030.
   • Plans to reintegrate 2 crore out-of-school children into formal education through open schooling systems.
2. Revised Curriculum Structure:
   • Replaces the 10+2 system with a 5+3+3+4 structure, catering to age brackets 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years.
   • Recognizes early childhood (ages 3-6) as a critical stage for cognitive and emotional development and incorporates it into formal education.
   • Ensures 12 years of formal schooling along with 3 years of Anganwadi/pre-schooling.
3. Board Examination Reforms:
   • Makes board exams less stressful, focusing on core concepts rather than rote memorization.
   • Allows students to attempt board exams twice for improved outcomes.
4. Governance Overhaul:
   • Introduces a new accreditation framework and establishes an independent body to regulate both public and private schools.
5. Key Initiatives:
   • Focuses on foundational literacy and numeracy for all.
   • Removes rigid divisions between academic, extracurricular, and vocational streams.
   • Introduces vocational training from Class 6, supplemented with internships.
   • Promotes teaching in mother tongue/regional languages up to Grade 5.
   • Implements a 360-degree Holistic Progress Card to monitor student development.
   • Introduces a National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE) by 2021.
   • Mandates a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree as the minimum qualification for teachers by 2030.

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Higher Education

1. Expanded Access:
   • Aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035.
   • Plans to add 3.5 crore new seats to accommodate the growth in enrollment.
2. Flexible Curriculum:
   • Introduces a holistic undergraduate education structure with multiple exit options and certifications for 3- or 4-year courses.
   • Discontinues M.Phil programs and promotes interdisciplinary learning across all levels.
3. Innovative Reforms:
   • Establishes an Academic Bank of Credits to enable seamless credit transfers between institutions.
   • Creates Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs) as benchmarks for global standards.
   • Sets up a National Research Foundation to strengthen the culture of innovation.
4. Unified Governance:
   • Proposes a single Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) to oversee the entire sector (excluding medical and legal education).
   • HECI will have four specialized verticals:
     • National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation.
     • General Education Council (GEC) for standard-setting.
     • Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding.
     • National Accreditation Council (NAC) for quality assurance.
5. Institutional Autonomy:
   • Gradually eliminates the affiliation system for colleges over 15 years.
   • Encourages colleges to evolve into either degree-granting autonomous institutions or become constituent units of universities.

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Other Key Changes

• Integration of Technology:
  • Establishes a National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) for sharing best practices in digital learning and assessment.
  • Creates PARAKH, a National Assessment Centre, to evaluate student performance uniformly.
• Global Collaboration:
  • Opens doors for foreign universities to establish campuses in India.
• Inclusivity:
  • Sets up Gender Inclusion Funds and Special Education Zones to uplift marginalized communities.
  • Proposes a National Institute for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit alongside an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to preserve linguistic heritage.
• Increased Public Investment:
  • Aims to raise public spending on education to 6% of GDP from the current 4.6%.

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Education in India: A Constitutional Perspective

1. Key Provisions:
   • Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Articles 45 and 39(f) emphasize equitable and accessible education.
   • The 42nd Amendment (1976): Shifted education to the Concurrent List, enabling both the central and state governments to legislate on the subject.
   • The 86th Amendment (2002): Made education a Fundamental Right under Article 21-A.
2. Key Legislations:
   • The Right to Education Act (2009): Ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years.
3. Government Initiatives:
   • Schemes such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Program, and the establishment of Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalayas were inspired by earlier NEPs.

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Key Takeaways
The National Education Policy 2020 offers a forward-looking, inclusive approach to education reform, focusing on experiential learning, flexibility, and holistic development. By addressing cognitive, emotional, and social development needs, this policy positions India to compete globally in knowledge and innovation. If executed effectively, it has the potential to transform India’s education landscape and bridge the gap with leading global systems.

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