The government launched a new national education policy (NEP) in 2020 after a hiatus of 34 years. Incidentally, this is the third education policy of the country after the first in 1968 and the second in 1986. The new education policy aims to reduce the unnecessary burden on students while improving their learning levels.
So, if questions about the NEP and the way it will affect your education are running amock in your mind, this blog is for you. In the following paragraphs, we will try to cover every bit of information available about the new education policy. So, let us get going.
Why a New Education Policy?
Let’s start our discussion with the most fundamental question. Why was there a need for a new education policy? To understand the need for a new policy, we need to introspect and figure out the fallacies of the current policy.
Since the 1990s, India has made tremendous progress in offering children access to schooling. The primary school enrollment is at record high levels. There has also been an increase in the number of schooling years and a decline in school dropouts. However, the greatest challenge remains the learning crisis.
The increase in schooling accessibility and years has unfortunately not translated into greater learning gains. National datasets suggest that learning levels have remained flat over the past 15 years. These fallacies in the current education system have created the need for a revision in the current education policy and the need for a new one.
The Central Premise of the New Education Policy
The NEP can be a watershed moment in the history of the Indian Education system. It offers a vital opportunity to transform Indian education from a system of sorting and selection to one that is based on human development. The NEW will help every child to reach their maximum potential.
The four pillars of the policy are access, quality, equity, and accountability. The policy has proposed to change the structure of the education system from the existing 10+2 to 5+3+3+4. So, there is a greater focus on preschool/ Anganwadi education unlike the previous one.
The Challenges that New Education Policy Seeks to Address
Recognizing the challenges with the learning levels, the NEP stresses the importance of early childhood education. Therefore, early childhood or preschool education is brought into the fold of national education along with regular school-based education.
The increased focus on learning during the early years is based on research pointing towards the importance of formative years in developing socio-economic and cognitive skills. The policy also aims to improve the effectiveness of teachers by seeking to enhance their skills, reward performance, and reduce overtime demands.
To know more click here https://phsps.edu.in/