New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to approve the draft New Education Policy (NEP 2020), that aims to revamp all aspects of Indian education structure, to regulate, govern and create a new system that aligns with the aspirational goals of the 21st-century education, while remaining consistent with India’s traditions and value systems, in a cabinet meeting today, as reported by Live Mint.
The meeting is said to take place at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
The national education policy envisions a central education system that contributes directly to transform the nation sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all.
The draft New Education Policy aims to universalise the pre-primary education (age range of 3-6 years) by 2025 and provide foundational literacy and numeracy for all by 2025. On the other hand, to reintegrating dropouts and ensure universal access to education, the NEP has set an objective to achieve access and participation in free and compulsory school education for all children in the age group of 3-18 years by 2030.
Here are some of the NEP highlights:
1. The new education policy has proposed a new ‘Curricular and Pedagogical Structure’, with 5+3+3+4 design which covers children in the age group 3-18 years. Under this ‘Five years of the Foundational Stage: 3 years of pre-primary school and Grades I, II’; ‘Three years of the Preparatory (or Latter Primary) Stage: Grades III, IV, V’; ‘Three years of the Middle (or Upper Primary) Stage: Grades VI, VII, VIII’ and ‘Four years of the High (or Secondary) Stage: Grades IX, X, XI, XII’ has been proposed.
2. The new education policy also aims to give students increased flexibility and choice of subjects to study across the arts, humanities, science, sports, and vocational subjects.
3. According to NEP, children have to be taught in three languages to quickly understand and grasp things. This is done because early on, one learns faster in their local language or mother tongue.
4. Every Indian student in grade VI-VIII has to take a course in any of the classical languages of the country to preserve the rich language of India and enrich students. The language course can also be continued through secondary education and university.
5. Physical Education has been made mandatory for all students at all levels of school in accordance with the local availability of teachers and facilities.
6. An independent, state-wide, regulatory body called the State School Regulatory Authority will be created for each state.
7. A National Research Foundation will also be established to grant competitive funding for outstanding research proposals across all disciplines, as determined by peer review and success of proposals.
8. Under NEP, a new apex body, the Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog or National Education Commission will be created. Headed by the Prime Minister of India, the commission will be responsible for developing, articulating, implementing, evaluating and revising the vision of education in the country.
9. In order to bring the focus back on education and learning, the MHRD will be redesignated as the Ministry of Education.