National Education Policy 2020

The Union Cabinet has passed India’s first new National Education Policy on 29 July 2020. It replaced a 34-year-old National Policy on Education, 1986 and introduces wide-ranging reforms aimed at making the Indian education system more contemporary and skill-oriented. NEP has renamed the HRD (human resource development) ministry as the education ministry.

Major Highlights of NEP:

1. Schooling starts at 3 years:

NEP expands 6-14 years of mandatory schooling to 3-18 years of schooling. The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/ pre-schooling. For emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education, 10+2 structure of school curriculum replaced by a 5+3+3+4 structure for ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years.

 2. Mother tongue as medium of instruction:

Focus on students’ mother tongue, as a medium of instruction in both public and private schools but it is not compulsory. Wherever the possible, medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8 and beyond will be home language, mother tongue, local language or the regional language.

 3. Science, arts, commerce division gets blurred:

No rigid separations between arts and sciences, curricular and extra-curricular activities & vocational and academic streams. Vocational education will start in schools from 6th grade, and will include internships.

 4. Single regulator for higher education institutions:

Higher Education Commission of India will be a single the overarching umbrella body for entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education. Public and private higher education institutions will be governed by the same set of norms for regulation, accreditation, and academic standards. Affiliation of colleges will be phased out in 15 years and a mechanism to be established for granting graded autonomy to colleges.

 5. Multiple entries and exit options in degree courses:

The undergraduate degree will be of either 3 or 4-year duration with multiple exit options within this period. College will be mandated to give certificate after completing 1 year in a discipline including vocational and professional areas, a diploma after 2 years, or a Bachelor’s degree after a 3-year program.

This New Education Policy aims to facilitate an inclusive, participatory, and holistic approach, which takes into consideration field experiences, empirical research, stakeholder feedback, as well as lessons learned from best practices. It is a progressive shift towards a more scientific approach to education. The prescribed structure will help to cater the ability of the child – stages of cognitive development as well as social and physical awareness. If implemented in its true vision, the new structure can bring India at par with the leading countries of the world.