Due to the global crisis, a country like India has gone through a lot, but people’s grit and perseverance are keeping things from falling apart. During these testing times, the Central Government introduced a new National Education Policy, which focuses on restructuring the education system.
The government has come up with the plan of making India a “global knowledge superpower” with National Educational Policy 2020. Along with the main motive, the government also wants to build an education system that contributes directly to transforming India through deep-rooted ethos. Also, they aim to increase the access and equity of higher education among the masses.
The policy talks about Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework developed by the NCERT for kids under 6. The framework is helpful to improve cognitive development in children and make them school ready.
In terms of the growth of the national economy, it has been estimated that the development of a strong ECCE programme is among the very best investments that India could make, with an expected return of Rs 10 or more for every Rs 1 invested – says K Kasturirangan who drafted the NEP.
The major advantage of the New Education Policy can be seen in the structural change of the schooling. Currently, the country follows the 10+2 pattern, with students getting segregated based on their streams. However, the new policy emphasizes the 5+3+3+4 pattern with no significant divisions/streamlining of the students. A science student can learn history along with other subjects whereas a commerce student can study biology as one of the coursework. This can provide a massive boost to the all-round competitiveness of the students.
Further, the new structure will involve the reduction of curriculum, eventually making space for more creative and critical thinking, discussion, and analysis-based learning.
The current scenario coupled with the next big thing across the globe is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Everyone knows that to go together with technology, one should learn programming at the primary level. Through this policy, the government is making coding compulsory for the kids from the 6th standard. It can be a significant structural reform in the future.
The National Education Policy can make India a knowledge hub, especially when it’s time to modify the current structure keeping in mind the needs of modern learners. The step was taken by the country’s administration to revamp the system along with instilling the “deep-rooted pride” of being an Indian through adoption of mother tongue as a medium of instruction.