Skip to main content

NEP: Education must shift away from knowledge, move to teaching students

Dr Anjusha Gawande*

The Education sector in the globe is changing dramatically. Many manual jobs may be captured over by machines as a consequence of multiple spectacular advances in science and technology, including the machine learning, and artificial intelligence. A professional workforce, particularly one that includes mathematics, computer science, and data science, as well as multidisciplinary competencies in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, will be in incredibly popular. As a result, education must shift away from knowledge and toward teaching students, how to be creative and transdisciplinary, and how to innovate, adapt, and process information differently in innovative and rapidly changing sectors.
The education development agenda at the global level is represented in Goal 4 (SDG4) of India's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in 2015. Ministry of Education has announced the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) on 29.07.2020.
In June 2017, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) formed a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan to design a National Education Policy. In May of this year, the Committee submitted its report. (Sashikanth Yechuri, 2021)
This Policy intends to address our country's many pressing developmental imperatives. As per the document of National Education Policy 2020, (Ministry of human resource development, Government of India, 2020) It is founded on the idea that education should foster not just cognitive abilities including literacy and numeracy and higher-order abilities like critical thinking and problem solving, but also social, ethical, and emotional abilities.
The policy has addressed the numerous significant levels of education system, School education, Higher Education, Professional Education, Adult Education and Life Long Learning, Technology Use and Integration, Online and Digital Education, Strengthening the Central Advisory Board of Education, Financing, Quality Education for All.
A new pedagogical and curricular restructure of 5+3+3+4 covering ages 3-18 will be implemented in instruction and learning, 3 years in an Anganwadi/pre-school setting and 12 years in a school setting. It is as shown in the below diagram.
At foundational Level, NCERT will design a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCPFECCE) in two components, namely a sub-framework for 0–3-year-olds and a sub-framework for 3–8-year-olds, for children aged 0 to 8.
It will be functioning in two parts, that is,3 years of Anganwadi/pre-school + 2 years in primary school in Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8).
Anganwadi workers/teachers with 10+2 or higher educational qualifications will receive a 6-month certificate programme in ECCE, while those with lower educational qualifications will receive a one-year diploma programme covering early literacy, numeracy, and other relevant aspects of ECCE. These programmes can be delivered via digital/distance mode via DTH channels as well as smartphones, allowing teachers to obtain ECCE qualifications while continuing to work.
Preparatory Stage will be consisted with 3 years of learning from class 3 to 5, Middle schooling again for 3 years including class 6 to 8, Secondary level will include 4 years of learning from class 9 to 12. The move from the decades-old 10+2 format to the 5+3+3+4 structure is one of the major improvements. It is the inclusive transition from foundational to the secondary stage in terms of structure. Previously, children between the ages of 6 and 14 were required to attend school. However, under the National Schooling Policy (NEP 2020), education will be mandatory for children aged 3 to 18.

Higher Education: Salient Features

Higher education is vital to achieving human and societal well-being and to building India into the democratic, just, socially conscious, cultured, and humane society that upholds liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice for all as envisioned in its Constitution. Higher education makes a substantial contribution to the nation's long-term livelihoods and economic development. As India progresses toward becoming a knowledge economy and culture, an increasing number of young Indians are likely to pursue higher education. The vision of the policy includes the following significant changes to the current system.

Institutional Restructuring and Consolidation

The primary goal of this higher education policy is to end higher education fragmentation by transforming higher education institutions into large multidisciplinary universities, colleges, and HEI clusters/Knowledge Hubs. University will be having a spectrum of institutions ranging from those that place equal emphasis on teaching and research, i.e., Research-intensive Universities and Teaching-intensive Universities. HEIs should always be established and developed in underserved areas to ensure full access, equity, and inclusion. By 2030, every district should have at least one large multidisciplinary HEI. Additionally, Institutions will be able to run Open Distance Learning (ODL) and online programmes if they are accredited.
A university, in its broadest sense, is a multidisciplinary institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programmes as well as high-quality teaching and research. The country's current complex nomenclature of HEIs, such as 'deemed to be university,' 'affiliating university,' 'affiliating technical university,' and 'unitary university,' will be replaced simply by 'university' upon meeting the norms.

Towards a More Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education

India has a long history of multidisciplinary and comprehensive education. The policy has focused on the culture of many arts, and that must be reintroduced into Indian education, as it is the type of education that will be necessary in the twenty-first century. Now a days it is called as liberal arts.
Curricular structures that are imaginative and adaptable will allow for creative combinations of subjects to be studied, as well as many entry and exit points. The undergraduate degree will last either three or four years, with multiple exit options and appropriate certifications, such as a certificate after one year in a discipline or field that includes vocational and professional areas, a diploma after two years of study, or a Bachelor's degree after a three-year programme. The Bachelor's degree programme is a four-year multidisciplinary curriculum.

Optimal Learning Environments and Support for Students

The foundations of quality learning include curriculum, pedagogy, continual assessment, and student assistance. A number of initiatives will be required, in addition to providing adequate resources and infrastructure, such as high-quality libraries, classrooms, labs, technology, sports/recreation areas, student discussion spaces, and dining areas, to ensure that learning environments are engaging and supportive, allowing all students to succeed.

Internationalization

High-performing Indian colleges would be encouraged to open campuses in other countries, while selected universities, such as those in the world's top 100, will be given preferential treatment in India.
An International Students Office will be established at each HEI that hosts international students to manage all aspects of welcoming and assisting international students. High-quality international research/teaching collaborations and faculty/student exchanges will be fostered, and relevant mutually advantageous MOUs with foreign nations will be signed.

Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education

This policy aims to provide all students with equal access to high-quality education, with a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Access to high-quality higher education can open up a world of possibilities, allowing individuals and communities to break free from poverty cycles. As a result, ensuring that all people have access to high-quality higher education options should be a top priority.

Teacher Education

All teacher education programmes must be performed inside composite multidisciplinary institutions since teacher education requires multidisciplinary inputs and education in high-quality content as well as pedagogy. To this end, all multidisciplinary universities and colleges will strive to establish education departments that will, in addition to conducting cutting-edge research in various aspects of education, offer B.Ed. programmes in collaboration with other departments such as psychology, philosophy, sociology, neuroscience, Indian languages, arts, music, history, literature, physical education, science, and mathematics. Furthermore, by 2030, all standalone TEIs will be obliged to transform into multidisciplinary institutions in order to offer the 4-year integrated teacher preparation programme.
Departments of Education will need to have a broad faculty profile, although teaching/field/research experience will be highly appreciated.

National Research Foundation

The National Research Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to The two primary pillars that will propel the country's economy and enhance society are research and innovation. The Committee suggested an autonomous agency, the National Research Foundation, to strengthen the research system (NRF). The primary function of the foundation is to funding research in all disciplines. Science, Technology, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities will be the four major divisions of the NRF.

Education for Professionals

The higher education system will encompass all forms of professional education. In these and other sectors, independent technical universities, health science universities, legal and agricultural universities or institutions will be phased out. The first year or two of the MBBS programme will be structured to be generic for all scientific graduates, after which students would be able to choose between MBBS, BDS, Nursing, or other specialisations.

References

MHRD. (2020, August). National Education Policy 2020.Retrieved September 15, 2020from https://www.mhrd.gov.in/
Sashikanth Yechuri, Monday, July 12, 2021
https://www.careerindia.com/features/national-education-policy-2020-highlights-and-features-025209.html
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1654058
---
*MIT WPU School of Education, Kothrud, Pune

Comments

TRENDING

Eight years of empowering tribal communities through water initiatives in Chhattisgarh

By Gazala Paul*   In the heart of Chhattisgarh, amidst the echoes of tribal life, a transformative journey has unfolded over the past eight years. The Samerth organization has diligently worked to elevate the lives of indigenous communities in the Kawardha district through the project, "Enabling Baiga Community to access safe drinking water." 

Regretful: Kapil Dev retired not leaving Indian cricket with integrity he upheld

By Harsh Thakor  Kapil Dev scaled heights as an entertainer and a player upholding the spirit of the game almost unparalleled in his era. In his time he was cricket’s ultimate mascot of sportsmanship On his day Kapil could dazzle in all departments to turn the tempo of game in the manner of a Tsunami breaking in. He radiated r energy, at a level rarely scaled in his era on a cricket field. Few ever blended aggression with artistry so comprehenisively. Although fast medium, he could be as daunting with the ball as the very best, with his crafty outswinger, offcutter, slower ball and ball that kicked from a good length. Inspite of bowling on docile tracks on the subcontinent, Kapil had 434 scalps, with virtually no assistance. I can never forget how he obtained pace and movement on flat pancakes, trapping the great Vivian Richards in Front or getting Geoff Boycott or Zaheer Abbas caught behind. No paceman carried the workload of his team’s bowling attack on his shoulders in his eras muc

Martin Crowe played instrumental role in making New Zealand a force in world cricket

By Harsh Thakor* Late Martin Crowe was the perfect manifestation of how mere figures could not convey or do justice to the true merit of a batsman. Crowe was arguably the most complete  or majestic batsmen of his era or the ultimate embodiment of batting perfection, or the classical batsmen. He perished 7 years ago, due to a rare and aggressive form of cancer, follicular lymphoma, which originated in 2012. In September, we celebrated his 60th birthday but sadly he left for his heavenly abode.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

1982-83 Bombay textile strike played major role in shaping working class movement

By Harsh Thakor  On January 18th, 1982 the working class movement commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Textile Workers Strike that lasted for 18 months, till July 1983. It was landmark event that played a major role in shaping the working class movement. With more than 2.5 lakh workers from 65 textile mills joining in this strike for almost two years, this strike became one of the most significant strikes in terms of scale and duration All democrats should applaud the mill workers’ united battle, and their unflinching resilience an death defying courage continues to serve as a model for contemporary working-class movements. Many middle class persons harboured opinions that the Textile workers were pampered or were a labour aristocracy, ignorant of how they were denied wages to provide for basic necessities. The Great Bombay Textile Strike is notably one of the most defining movements in the working class struggles in Post-independent India. Bombay’s textile industry flourished in

Towards 2024: Time for ‘We the People of India’ to wake up before it is too late

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India!

Ceasefire a tactical victory for Palestinian resistance, protests intensify across globe

By Harsh Thakor*  The Zionist leadership and Netanyahu’s government were compelled to concede the defeat of their first attempt after almost 50 days of daily fighting in the Gaza Strip.  Netanyahu was forced to concede that he was unsuccessful in suppressing the Palestinian Resistance; and that the release of the prisoners was only plausible because they accepted Hamas’ terms.

Odisha leadership crisis deepens: CM engages retired babus to oversee depts' work

By Sudhansu R Das  Over decades, Odisha has lost much of its crop diversity, fertile agriculture land, water bodies, employment potential, handicraft and handloom skills etc. The state has failed to strike a balance between the urban and rural sector growth; this leads to the migration of villagers to the urban areas leading to collapse of the urban infrastructures and an acute labor shortage in rural areas.  A large number of educated, skilled and unskilled Odia people have migrated to other states for higher education, quality jobs and for earning livelihood which plummet the efficiency level of government departments. Utmost transparency in the recruitment and promotion in the state government departments will improve governance mechanisms in the state.  "No near and dear one approach" in governance mechanisms can only achieve inclusive growth for the state on payment basis. This is a moral hazard. When so many educated young people seek employment outside the

Massive tropical deforestation: Big finance's $307 billion go to forest-risk commodities

A note on report by Forests & Finance coalition -- Rainforest Action Network, TuK Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Repórter Brasil, BankTrack, Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Friends of the Earth US: *** A new report released on ‘Finance Day’ at COP28 by the Forests & Finance Coalition , provides a comprehensive look into the role big finance plays in driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change and human rights abuses in tropical forest regions. The report reveals that since the Paris Agreement, banks have pumped over $307 billion into high risk forestry and agriculture companies linked to tropical deforestation, proving that the policies of major global banks and investors are failing to prevent continued widespread forest and biodiversity loss.

20% of Indian businesses have no emission plan in place despite climate emergency: Report

By Jag Jivan   New research underlines urgent need for strategies and transition plans to combat climate change, remain successful and meet stakeholder expectations.