A New National Education Policy has been approved by the Cabinet. It was presented by Union Ministers Prakash Javedekar (Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) and   Ramesh Pokhriyal (Minister of Human Resource Management)  in the cabinet briefing. The New Education Policy will come into effect by 2030 and the Ministry of Human Resource Management (MHRD) has been renamed as Education Ministry.

The New Policy suggests extension of the Right to Education, covering children under age 3 to 18 years. Currently, the rule applies only to students until the age of 14 years. Thus,the new policy aims to provide foundational literacy to all and universalize the pre -primary education by 2025.

Previous Policies

The implementation of previous policies on education have focused mainly on issues of access and equity, with a lesser emphasis on quality of education. The unfinished agenda of the National Policy on Education 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92), is approximately dealt within this Policy. A major development since the last Policy of 1986/92 has been the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 which laid down the legal underpinnings for achieving universal elementary education.

Principles of New Policy

The foundational pillars of the New Policy are access, equity, affordability and accountability.

This Policy is based on following principles –

• Flexibility for learners to choose their learning programs.
• No hard separation between arts and science, between vocational and academic etc., to ensure the integrity and unity of knowledge.
• Multi-disciplinary and a holistic education across the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and sports for a multidisciplinary world.
• Emphasis on conceptual understanding, ethics, and human and Constitutional values and life skills.
• Regular formative assessment for learning rather than the summative assessment that encourages today’s coaching culture.
• A respect for diversity and respect for the local context in all curriculum with full equity, inclusion and resource efficiency.
• Rigorous recruitment and preparation of teachers and faculty, along with continuous professional development, positive working environments and service.
• A ‘light but tight’ oversight and regulatory system to ensure integrity and transparency of the educational system through audit and public disclosure.
• To encourage innovation and out- of -the- box ideas through autonomy, good governance and empowerment.
• Outstanding research as a prerequisite for outstanding education,and development and continuous policy-making based on regular assessment of realities on the ground by educational experts.
• Substantial investment in a strong, vibrant public education system as well as encouragement and facilitation of true generous private participation

Implementation of the policy

• Implementation of the spirit and intent of the policy will be the most critical matter, the intent, and the spirit of the policy must serve as the most important consideration.
• The policy initiatives will be implemented in a phased manner as each policy point has several steps.
• Prioritization in ensuring optimal sequencing of policy points and most critical and urgent actions will be taken up first.
• Comprehensiveness in implementation will be the key and will ensure the desired objectives are achieved.
• In education there will be careful planning, joint monitoring and collaborative implementation between the Center and States.
• Timely infusion of requisite resources such as human, infrastructural, and financial at the State and Center Level will be the key.
• Careful analysis and review of the linkages between multiple parallel implementation steps will be taken.

National Education Policy 2020 goal is to build a global best education system and transform India into a global knowledge superpower rooted in Indian ethos.

‘Progress is impossible without Change, and We must welcome change as the rule.’

 

SWAGATA SHARMA

NEF Law College, Guwahati, Assam.