The new National Education Policy 2020 outlines a vision where gaining knowledge has no limits. NEP 2020 aims to meet current learning demands while readying students for future hurdles. It fosters inclusion and diversity, providing hope for students, teachers, and communities. To stay up to date with quickly evolving modern needs, the policy centres on more than just top grades. It also promotes well-rounded growth, nurturing people as citizens with balanced skills and perspectives.
About National Education Policy
On July 29th, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved a new National Education Policy for the first time in over three decades. The previous policy, introduced in 1986 as the National Policy on Education (NPE), was further modified in 1992. The objective of the 1986 NPE was access and equity in education.
Access means the availability of education, and equity means fairness in education because, back then, many people were deprived of basic education. But we have indeed come a long way from 1986.
However, it is about access to quality education today. Previously, it was just about having access to education. The major improvement since the last policy of 1986 has been the Right to Children for Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009/ Right To Education Act 2009.
Vision of the National Education Policy 2020
To address the need for development in the country, the National Education Policy reconstruct the governance and regulation of the Indian education system. NEP 2020’s primary goal is to create a framework and vision for Indian schools and higher education.
National Education Policy 2020 Key Proposals:
- Before, the academic structure was 10+2 years of school that has been restructured into 5+3+3+4, where the first 3 years of 5 consist of preschool comprising KG, LKG, and UKG and the last 2 years comprise of 1st and 2nd class. All these 5 years will be going to the foundation years of the students. Then, the next 3 years (class 3rd to 5th) will be part of the students’ preparatory schooling, followed by another 3 years (class 6th to 8th) will be your middle schooling. And the final four years (class 9th to 12th) are going to be your secondary schooling.
- Coming to undergraduate degrees, these are available in 3 & 4 years duration. The best part about the new policy is that it has brough int the multiple entry and exit options. This implies that a student has the choice to return and continue where they left off if they decide to drop out of the degree program at any time during the duration. Along with multiple entry and exit options, a student will always receive certificates accordingly.
- Higher Educational institutions will now have the opportunity to offer a 1 year Master’s Degree also. Earlier, it used to be 2 years master’s degree, which still exists. However, if you choose to do 2 years post-graduation after 3 years of undergraduate, the second year of the course will focus more on research.
- The NEW Education Policy has decided to discontinue the M.phil (Master of Philosophy Program. After earning their master’s degree, students will be eligible to earn a PhD degree.
- Furthermore, the idea of dividing academic disciplines like the arts and sciences apart has been rejected by NEP 2020. This is done to reduce the barrier between hard sciences and soft sciences.
National Education Policy 2020 on CBSE Syllabus:
As a part of NEP, the CBSE syllabus has seen a change in classes 9 to 12. The policy has introduced a system of creditization. Under this system, each subject is allocated a specific number of credits, determined by the duration of learning it necessitates. A complete academic year is structured around 1200 national learning hours, equivalent to 40 credits.
To Wind Up:
The new National Education Policy that was introduced in 2020 plays an important part in how education functions across India. The goal is to make learning better for the 21st century by including everyone and treating all equally. It focuses on key skills like solving problems, thinking of new ideas, and questioning what you read. These skills will help students compete in the modern world. Not only this, but NEP also focuses on the ongoing development and growth of professionals and teachers in all the government and private educational bodies.