National Education Policy(NEP) was implemented by the Union Ministry of Education, India (Ministry of Human Resource Development of India) on 29th July 2020 for increasing equality, development and inclusiveness in the education sector. The policy aims at transforming and developing India’s education system into a much more fruitful and developmental one. There are many disparities in the education sector of India. Many students can't come to schools because of their financial and other predicaments. There are people who drop out of school and college due to unfavourable conditions. This new policy has solutions for all the challenges of the education sector of India.

What is NEP 2020?

The Ministry of Human Resource Development of India implemented National Education Policy on 29 July 2020 replacing the education policy of 1986. The draft was first issued in 2019 by a panel led by Krishnaswamy Kasthurirangan. The main objective of the National Education Policy 2020 is quality education for all without discrimination. This policy can benefit all students and citizens of the country if distributed evenly and properly. After publishing the policy’s draft in 2019, there were many consultations done with local government bodies to ensure that the policy can benefit the students totally.

Objectives of NEP 2020

NEP 2020 is not only happening in primary school education. But, it also has clear views on higher education including teacher education respecting diversity.

School-level

  • Instead of the present 10 + 2 system, 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 system is introduced in the National Education Policy 2020.
  • The first foundation stage of five years is for the students from 3 years to 8 years of age, where they gain the basic language skills and the education type will be of activity mode and play-based. There will be three years of pre-school education and another two years of school(Class 1, 2) in this first stage.
  • The second stage, called the preparatory stage, is for the students from class 3 to class 5. This stage focuses on experimental learning where the basics of science and mathematics are known to the students.
  • The third stage is known as the middle stage, where the students do experiential learning with the help of coding and internships. This stage is for the students from grade 6 to grade 8.
  • Critical thinking and inclusiveness is more evident in the fourth stage, the secondary stage. This stage is for students from classes 9 to 12. In the first two years, classes 9, 10 is the first phase and the next two years, classes 11, 12 is the second phase of this stage. There will be many subject combinations so that students can learn what they want to study according to their aptitude and interests instead of just sticking to the traditional methods where students have no many choices. Board exams in the 10th and 12th will continue as the same scenario.
  • The education medium will be the mother tongue for students up to grade 5 so that their knowledge basics will be thorough. When students have to learn in a foreign language medium, first they have to learn the language and then learn the topics. It is both time consuming and this sole reason for not knowing the foreign language will make the learning process more difficult.

College level

  • Degree courses will be of different types. People who wish to join further education can take up four-year degree courses and those who are looking for a job immediately after graduation can take up three-year degree courses. Vocational education and skill development are promoted in college-level courses.
  • Students can stop the courses at any time and rejoin the courses anytime. There is a certificate given after the first year of a degree course, a diploma will be awarded after the second year and a final certificate after the completion of the degree. This will prevent students from dropping out of college and never coming back to their studies. In India, there are many people who couldn't complete their education just because of the circumstances they’re in. This will help such people to come back to their studies.
  • MPhil has been discontinued from the education system of India.
  • The choice of major and minor subjects have been changed to a multidisciplinary approach where students’ choices and interests are given the first priority. Students can perform well when they are pursuing the subjects of their interests, which can also make them more employable in their areas, which in turn is very much useful for a developing nation like India.

Teacher level

  • Four years of integrated B.ed teacher training programmes are to be implemented and merit scholarships are to be given to the deserving candidates. It is very important that teachers are to be properly trained in an education system for the smooth functioning of the system. A teacher can influence the students in numerous ways. So, it is given primary importance to train teachers and their merit.
  • There will be incentives given to teachers who are performing well. The teachers with dedication and hard work will be awarded more privileges and allowances. This will make teachers work more towards the success of students, not merely in their academics, but also in their whole individual development of a student.
  • Along with the scores of eligibility tests like NET, SET, TET, classroom demonstration and interview will be conducted for the teacher hiring process. In this process, instead of checking whether the teacher can speak fluently in English, the teacher's proficiency in the local language and her/his understanding of the diversity will be assessed.
  • The main objective of the policy is implemented in teacher education as well. The hiring of teachers will also be done from all sections of the society, including Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups, thereby promoting inclusion and accepting everyone as equals.
  • There is a lack of teachers in many of the government schools. This problem will be solved by the policy’s measures by understanding the number of vacancies and recruiting the proper number of teachers for all the subjects in schools for the proper functioning of the system.
The policy aims at increasing Gross Enrollment Ratio by 50% in 2035 with the help of MOOC courses and 3.5 crore seats are to be added in higher education. It's been one year since the national education policy has been implemented and still there are improvements and additions to the policy. It is a very important step in the development of the educational sector in India, and therefore important for every aspiring candidate in any competitive exam. Apps like Entri provide you with the most latest and updated information useful for everybody to read and be aware of.