NEP 2020: Freedom Of Choice, Language And Empowering Students

The much-awaited New Education Policy has finally unveiled, and it is on the line to make India a global knowledge superpower. India was indeed in dire need of such a futuristic plan. It is undoubtedly an ambitious policy that has come after 34 years, but its success lies in its seamless execution.  

This 21st-century policy is addressing many developmental imperatives for the country. Almost all aspects of the education structure have been addressed with the aim of revisions and revamping and aligning the same with the new system. However, at the same time, it has remained rooted in Indian traditions and value systems in education.  

NEP 2020 highlights the 6C’s, which includes an increased emphasis on co-curricular activities, critical thinking, communication, continuous review, creativity, and culture. All these aspects have to be driven by 5 V’s that include an emphasis on values, Vedas, virtue, vocational education, and versatility. NEP will help in realizing the full potential of students NEP 2020 highlights the 4 Energizers in education policy. NEP has focused on the foundational learning of students and gave a high emphasis on experiential learning. It has emphasized on redesigning of curriculum that increases the high engagement level amongst students and makes them employable. It also highlights equitable and inclusive education. It primarily aims to ensure that every child gets an opportunity to learn and excel.  

NEP also gets the right set of 3 Q’s, such as Questions to ponder, quest for education, and to increase the appetite for a quality education using a holistic and honest approach in this globalized world. Focus on teacher’s training and funding the education of girl children are some of the welcome moves. The positive intent of bridging the gaps in policy, communication, processes is finally attended, and these efforts call for appreciation. Flexibility to multidisciplinary education, soft skills to life skills. Ethics and human values, creativity, and critical thinking to respect for diversity and local context got attention in the policy, and its integration will undoubtedly bring out positive changes.  

NEP 2020 gives options to students to not to lose out their degree’s. It also provides the option of credit transfer across the universities. The broader palate of subjects is offered to students, and they can freely choose subjects of their choice, as stream labelling has been removed. This gives students a chance to live their dreams and freely select subjects based on their talents.  

School education in this policy got better impetus, but by sheer numbers, also word Higher education has been used  115 times. And word quality has been used about 128 times in the policy. Do these numbers matter at all? Yes, certainly, they do matter. The policy envisions complete overhaul and reenergizing of the higher education system. The idea of a multidisciplinary university and college and autonomy of institutions is a grand move with particular emphasis on revamping curriculum, revising pedagogy, and student support towards experiential learning education.  

The integration of STEM education will have positive learning outcomes and improved higher-order thinking amongst students. The policy also emphasizes on integration of technology in all levels of learning with its digital drive in professional and teacher education. A particular emphasis has been laid down on creating digital infrastructure, digital content, and capacity building in its offering by both schools and universities.  

NEP draft document, its launch, and public sentiment towards it talk about its positivity and readiness for the future, and this reform change is welcomed. However, this paradigm shift would undoubtedly require a robust execution plan to see the light of the day. Picture abhi baki hai mere dost!   

Dr. Sheenu Jain

Guest Author She is the faculty in the area of Marketing & Entrepreneurship at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur. She has earned her Ph.D. in Green Marketing. She holds multi-disciplinary master’s degree MBA (Marketing), Master of Commerce & MSc Applied Psychology. She headed the Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation as Young Management Scholar at IIM Calcutta for about 3 years..