Featured daily on All India Radio Newsonair, AIR Spotlight is an insightful program where distinguished panelists discuss issues of importance. These discussions can be a valuable resource for those preparing for the IAS exam . This article will delve into a recent discussion on the new education policy.
Panelists of the Discussion:
- Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
- Sonu Sood, AIR Correspondent.
The Backdrop:
The Union Education and Skill Development Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Virendra Kumar have jointly launched a booklet titled ‘One-year New Education Policy (NEP) – 2020 Achievements’. Alongside the booklet, they have also unveiled some significant initiatives of the New Education Policy – 2020. Our discussion will revolve around these achievements, initiatives, and the future of the New Education Policy.
The New Education Policy 2020 at a Glance:
- The National Education Policy 2020, the first educational policy of the 21st century, seeks to address the growing developmental needs of our country.
- The Policy proposes a complete overhaul of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance. The aim is to create a new system that aligns with the aspirational goals of 21st-century education, while retaining India’s traditional values.
To learn more about the New Education Policy 2020 , visit the linked article.
Key Achievements of the Policy:
- Within the first ten days of the announcement of the policy, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development was renamed the Ministry of Education.
- Transformation of the Schooling System: The school education system was shifted from the 10+2 system to the 5+3+3+4 system, marking a significant change.
- Introduction of Vidya Pravesh: This is a 3-month induction program for grade 1 students.
- Launch of NISHTHA 2.0: NISHTHA 2.0 is an integrated program of teacher training designed by NCERT. You can learn more about NISHTHA here.
- Establishment of the Academic Bank of Credit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), a new initiative by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that offers students multiple entry and exit options.
- Launch of National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR): The NDEAR 2021 outlines the framework to energize and catalyze the digital education ecosystem.
- Ensuring Education for Divyang and Gifted Children: The New Education Policy 2020 ensures barrier-free access to education for all children with any kind of disabilities.
These initiatives are being implemented on a large scale across the country.
Areas of Focus:
Enhancing Gross Enrolment Ratio: NEP 2020 aims to achieve a 100 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio across the country.
Lowering Dropout Rate: The policy focuses on reducing the school dropout rate. The introduction of the Academic Bank of Credit will allow students to continue their education without starting from scratch, thus minimizing dropout due to migration.
Empowering Students: The policy aims to make each and every student in India independent to improve their standard of living.
New Initiatives:
Several new initiatives were launched on 24th August 2021, as follows:
Launch of NIPUN Bharat:
- Union Minister for Education, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched a National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat). This initiative aims to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy for every child in the country by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
- Launched under the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha , the mission will focus on providing access and retaining children in foundational years of schooling, teacher capacity building, development of high-quality and diversified student and teacher resources/learning materials, and tracking the progress of each child in achieving learning outcomes.
Introduction of FLN Tools:
- The Ministry of Education has launched a new vertical for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under the Diksha platform for school education.
- The FLN tools and resources have been launched by the Education Minister through the Diksha platform under NIPUN Bharat. The FLN mission aims at assisting all the union territories and states in attaining FLN goals.
Launch of Virtual School of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS):
- The Union Education Minister launched the ‘Virtual School’ of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
- The virtual school aims to teach and train the students of Classes 9th to 12th through advanced digital learning platforms.
- The virtual school initiative of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will provide opportunities to the differently-abled students, allowing them to participate equally. Exams will also be conducted through Artificial Intelligence-based remotely proctored arrangements under the virtual school.
- The virtual school of NIOS will adopt a digital approach to conventional learning and will teach students concepts like cyber security. Such training will be held along with regular schooling.
- These schools will focus on labs and will train students through a practical approach.
Release of Priya – The Accessibility Warrior:
- The comic book named “Priya -The Accessibility Warrior” is a collaboration between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- “Priya – The Accessibility Warrior” comic book emphasizes the need for accessibility and helps to guide the students on the path of kindness, helpfulness, and solicitousness towards everyone.
- The comic book is available on DIKSHA Portal, E-Pathshala, and NCERT website for everyone to access and read.
Major Challenges:
- Acceptability by all universities is a major challenge. While the policy has been introduced, its implementation at the grassroots level by universities is crucial for students to avail its benefits.
- The credits earned in one institution must hold equal standards and value when transferred to another institution. A robust mechanism for defining these credits and their standards is needed.
Wrapping Up:
NEP 2020 aims to align with international education standards and, in some areas, it goes a step beyond. It is an inclusive framework that focuses on the elementary level of education to the higher education level in the country.
For more Gist of AIR Spotlight discussions, click here .
