After 34 years, the country is set to adopt a new National Education Policy (NEP), heralding large-scale, transformational reforms in both the school and higher education sectors. According to the NEP, board exams for Classes X and XII will be made easier by redesigning them with the aim of ensuring holistic development of students. In higher education, the policy envisages broad based, multi-disciplinary, undergraduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, and integration of vocational education. Undergraduate education can be for three-four years with multiple exit options and appropriate certifications within this period.
A Higher Education Commission of India will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body for the entire higher education sector, excluding medical and legal education. By 2030, the minimum qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
Here’s what education experts said about the latest developments:
Malabika Sarkar, Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University
“We are happy that the multidisciplinary approach we have been practising at Ashoka is recognised as the right way to prepare students for challenges in their careers. Government-recognised multiple entry and exit options at the undergraduate level will open up more options for the youth. This, supported by an Academic Bank of Credit to digitally store credits, will go a long way in providing a favourable environment for students to plan their education. Ashoka already has a unique, one-year, multidisciplinary, Young India Fellowship programme, that is crafted to offer students a rich postgraduate experience. The NEP has also made a bold move to resolve the binary issue of research and teaching by focussing on research that will foster a strong culture in innovation. This, along with enhancement of digital infrastructure, will match our education system with the requirements of today’s dynamic business and economic environment.”
Sarita Digumarti, COO and Co-Founder, Jigsaw Academy
“NEP is a long overdue and welcome change. The overall emphasis seems to be in aligning education to learning outcomes and employability. It’s exciting to see coding introduced at an early stage and the improved flexibility in choice of subjects in higher education with a greater focus on vocational courses. This fluidity will undoubtedly help minimise the gap in demand and supply, and have immense, transformative, impact overall.”
Sunil Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)
“NEP will lay a foundation for innovation in the Indian education system. The focus on e-learning with an all inclusive, multidisciplinary approach towards education is a potent factor, especially during such uncertain times. NEP also has a good vision for school education, which is the basis for higher education. Particular insistence on the inclusion of soft skill subjects such as art and literature, and the introduction of 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 curricular model will help children grow in a systematic manner. The emphasis on hands-on experience and breaking barriers between different subjects are some of the key factors that will play a vital role in the overall development of the students. Additionally, the integration of the UGC and AICTE under the Higher Education Council will streamline the processes and make it efficient. Last but not the least, the government's plan to increase public investment in the education sector to 6 per cent of the GDP will provide a huge fillip to the entire education landscape.”
Sujatha Kumaraswamy, VP-Strategy-Business Excellence, Manipal Global Education Services
“As the country faces a shortage of quality professors, the proposed initiatives around teacher training, such as, merit-based scholarships will provide the much needed impetus to the education environment. Innovative outcome-based teaching approach with domain expertise is the need of the hour — and that is what we are trying to address through our new programs for teacher training and school leadership sessions, in partnership with the Centre for Teacher Accreditation (CENTA), to help certify teachers and bridge the skill-gap that we feel exists today’s education system.”
Sumeet Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, LEAD School
“The NEP 2020 has introduced many path-breaking reforms. Recognising the importance of early childhood education with its 5+3+3+4 curricular structure makes some of us working in Early Childhood Children Education for the last 12 years really happy! The move towards flexible entry and exit by breaking down the barriers between arts, commerce and science, will herald a new era of cross-disciplinary learning.One that is problematic is the insistence on mother tongue as the medium of instruction till Class V. This is against the principle of choice. Parents should be able choose the medium they want their children to learn in.”
Aditya Jadhav, Professor, TAPMI
“Dr. K Kasturirangan’s NEP has refocused the education sector to be more practice-oriented. The emphasis on basic literacy and numeracy at primary level followed by education geared towards cognitive development leading to a skill based vocational training will make the school education valuable for the students’ well-rounded development. The use of technology as an enabler in education will ensure delivery of quality inputs to a much larger audience. Digital technologies always play an important role in enhancement of scale and scope and the policy’s focus on this aspect is necessary for a country like India. Flexibility will help students who had to stop their college education due to various reasons and credit transfer will facilitate student-exchange across multidisciplinary schools in ensuring holistic development of the student.
Ramya Venkataraman, Founder and CEO, Centre for Teacher Accreditation (CENTA)
“NEP 2020’s emphasis on a holistic curriculum and the Class 10th and 12th boards becoming less rote-based and more a test of core capacities can drive real learning in school education. Career paths for teachers based on competencies and a flexible credit system in higher education overall can catalyse high quality teacher education. Manipal and CENTA’s Post Graduate Certificate Program in ‘teaching for the future’ is fully aligned with these thrusts and we welcome the reforms.”
Sumesh Nair, Co-founder, Board Infinity
"50 per cent GER target in higher education and multidisciplinary education are progressive measures towards creating a high-potential workforce. Also, making more institutions go autonomous gives them the flexibility to decide curriculum and pedagogy. If we are able to combine this with skill-based education ,focusing on what the contemporary needs of the industry are, we will be able to create world-lass talent in India in great numbers simply because of our demographics."