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Global Journal of Applied Engineering in Computer Science and Mathematics (GJAECSMA) – Special Edition 1 – Apr 2022
NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020: REFORM’S IN SCHOOLS AND
HIGHER EDUCATION: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY
1
Sita Malakar
1 Department of Sociology, St. John College, Dimapur, Nagaland
Email: sitamalakarsoc@gmail.com
Abstract
To study biggest reforms and challenges incorporated in
The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), was approved
NEP 2020.
by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July 2020.This is the first
education policy of the 21st century which replace the thirty-four- Methodology
year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986.The policy
This study is purely qualitative in nature using
aims at reforming of education system from pre-school to
secondary data consisting of books, journals and websites,
secondary level with 100 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
research articles, government publications and so.
in school education by 2030.Some of the biggest reforms the NEP
The major milestones of India’s education policy from
includes teaching up to class five in mother tongue or regional
independence to today:
language, lowering the stakes of board exams, allowing foreign
universities to set up campuses in India, a single regulator for
The University Education Commission (1948-49) also
higher education institutions except for law and medical colleges
known as the ‘Radhakrishnan Commission’ (led by
and common entrance tests for universities. The main objective
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan) was focused on higher
of the paper to study biggest reforms and challenges incorporated
education.
in NEP 2020. Methodology: This study is purely qualitative in
The Secondary Education Commission (1952-53) was
nature using secondary data consisting of books, journals and
focused on education after primary school and before
websites, research articles, government publications and so.
university begins.
Keywords: National Education Policy 2020, Reform, Schools,
The Education Commission (1964-66), also known as
Higher Education, Critical Analysis.
the ‘Kothari Commission’, as it was led by Dr. DS
Kothari. This commission had a holistic approach and
Introduction
advised the government on the national pattern of
Education is an important human activity today.
education and general policies, taking into account each
Education begins from birth and continues till our death.
stage from primary to post graduate.
There is no boundary for pertaining education. Its
The National Policy on Education, 1968: Based upon
implications are rich and varied. It includes the knowledge
the recommendations of the Kothari Commission, the
and experience acquired by a person in his life time.
government announced a policy which called for equal
Education is not only necessary for survival but also for
educational opportunities in order to achieve national
enrichment of one’s life, better living and improvement in
integration and greater cultural and economic
social and cultural life. Gandhiji regarded education as a
development.
powerful force for social reconstruction. To him education
The 42nd constitutional Amendment, 1976, which
is an activity which necessary not only for social progress
included education in the Concurrent List, so as to be
but also for moral political and economic development of a
considered by both the states as well as the union
nation’s. A well-defined and futuristic education policy is a
government earlier it was on the state list, which gave
must for every country because education is the key driver
the state governments precedence in terms of
of economic and social progress. Taking into account their
lawmaking.
respective traditions and culture, different countries have
The National Policy on Education, 1986 whose
adopted varied education systems. Recently, the
objective was a "special emphasis on the removal of
Government of India took a step forward by announcing its
disparities and to equalize educational opportunity,"
new education policy 2020. But there lies a world of
especially for women, Scheduled Tribes (ST) and
difference between laying down a policy on paper and
Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. The NPE of 1986
following it in practically. Many specific proposals of NEP
was modified in 1992.
are impractical and would cause enormous disruption for
The ‘Common Minimum Programme’ adopted by the
institutions, students and teachers, and would require
UPA1 government in 2004 went more or less same as
considerable increase in public expenditure on education
before.
which remains a distant dream. The implementation of NEP
In 2009, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
2020 depends on how the government, universities and
Education (RTE) Act was passed, which made
schools can overcome the practical challenges. The National
elementary education a fundamental right for every
Education Policy 2020 is welcome and re-imagination of
child.
India's education system.
The T.S.R Subramanian Committee Report 2016,
Objectives sought to improve the quality and credibility of
education by addressing the implementation gaps.
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Global Journal of Applied Engineering in Computer Science and Mathematics (GJAECSMA) – Special Edition 1 – Apr 2022
The Committee for Draft National Education Policy, or By 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching
Dr. K. Kasturirangan Committee, submitted its report will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree.
on May 31, 2019. It sought to address the challenges of: Easing of board exam: The board exams for class 10 and
(i) access, (ii) equity, (iii) quality, (iv) affordability and 12 will continue. However, the board exams will be
(v) accountability faced by the current education made 'easier' as they will primarily test core capacities,
system. competencies rather than months of coaching or
And, finally, the new National Education policy 2020. memorization.
Results and Discussions Changes in report card: The progress card of all students
A. Biggest reform made in NEP 2020 for school-based assessment will be redesigned. It will
be a holistic, 360-degree, multidimensional report card
The 5+3+3+4 system: The 10+2 structure of school curricula
that will reflect in great detail the progress and
is replaced by a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding
uniqueness of each learner in the cognitive, affective,
to ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years respectively. This
and psychomotor domains. The progress card will
includes 12 years of schooling and three years of Anganwadi
include self-assessment, peer assessment, and teacher
and pre-schooling.
assessment.
Schooling from 3 years: According to the New Education
Foreign universities in India: NEP has paved the way
Policy, from the age of 3, children will be part of Early
for foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). This will be
Internationalization of education will be facilitated
delivered through standalone Anganwadis, Anganwadis co-
through institutional collaborations as well as student
located with primary schools, pre-primary schools/sections
and faculty mobility. This will allow the entry of top
covering at least age 5 to 6 years co-located with existing
world-ranked universities to open campuses in India.
primary schools, and stand-alone pre-schools - all of which
NEP ends science-commerce-arts streams: NEP has
would recruit workers/teachers specially trained in the
eliminated the rigid separation of streams. Students will
curriculum and pedagogy of ECCE.
now be able to choose subjects like history and physics
Promoting libraries: A National Book Promotion Policy will
at the same time in class 11 and 12.
be formulated, and extensive initiatives will be undertaken
National Educational Technology Forum: An
to ensure the availability, accessibility, quality, and
autonomous body, the National Educational
readership of books across geographies, languages, levels,
Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide
and genres.
a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of
Teaching up to class fifth in the mother tongue/regional
technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning,
language: The mother tongue or local or regional language
administration.
will be the medium of instruction in all schools up to Class
Common entrance exam for college admission: The
5 (preferably till Class 8 and beyond), according to the NEP.
National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct entrance
Besides, Sanskrit will be offered at all levels and foreign
examinations for admissions to universities across the
languages from the secondary school level.
country. The NTA already conducts the all-India
Creating Bal Bhavans: Every state or district will be
engineering entrance exam --JEE Main, NEET, UGC
encouraged to establish 'Bal Bhavans' as a special daytime
NET, and others. As per the NEP 2020, the entrance
boarding school, to participate in art-related, career-related,
exam to be conducted by the NTA for admission to
and play-related activities. Free school infrastructure can be
universities and colleges will be optional.
used by Samajik Chetna Kendras.
Academic Bank of Credit: This to be established for NEP 2020 key targets as well as the Timeline for
digitally storing academic credits earned from different Implementation:
HEIs so that these can be transferred and counted
The entire policy will be implemented by 2040.
towards final degree earned. The academic credit stored
100% Gross Enrolment Ratio from Pre-School to
in a digital locker will be like a bank credit through
Secondary level by 2030.
which a student will be able to resume education after a
Teachers to be prepared for assessment reforms by
break as specified by the higher education commission
2030.
later.
Common standards of learning in public and private
Multiple entry and exit points in higher education: The
schools.
new policy will have multiple entry and exit points.
Universalizing early childhood care and education by
Under the four-year programme students can exit after
2030.
one year with a certificate, after two years with a
Vocational training for at least 50% learners by 2025.
diploma and a Bachelor's degree after three years and
Bachelor's with research after 4 years. The multiple
B. Challenges in the implementation of NEP 2020
entry and exit will be done through the academic bank
1. Opening new universities and school will be a greater
of credit.
challenge
Affiliation of colleges will be phased out in 15 years and
India has around 1000 universities across the country.
a stage-wise mechanism will be established for granting
Doubling the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education
graded autonomy to colleges.
institution by 2030 which is stated in policy goals will
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Global Journal of Applied Engineering in Computer Science and Mathematics (GJAECSMA) – Special Edition 1 – Apr 2022
required opening new universities. The National Education There is no mention about reservations or other affirmative
Policy 2020 intends to bring 2 crores children who are action. The increase costs of education across the board may
currently not in schools, back into the school system. This fail to meet the aspirations for all round knowledge and
will surely require a substantial amount of investment in productive employment.
classrooms and campuses and also need for appointing new 5. Reimagining and adopting pedagogical changes
teachers. Though many teaching positions are still unfilled Education must not only develop the cognitive skills in
in existing schools, this may become challenging to achieve learners – both ‘foundational skills’ of literacy and
the goal. numeracy and the ‘high-order’ cognitive skills like critical
2. Funding Challenges thinking – but also ‘social and emotional skills’ known as
Appropriate resource allocation is a major challenge. For the soft skills like empathy, grit, determination, leadership
example 6 % of GDP budget for education discussed and and teamwork. The NEP calls for such value-based learning
recommended in all previous Education Commissions and along with significant curriculum and pedagogical changes.
Policy documents but it never became a reality. Unlike the These pedagogical changes are tough and need to be figured
previous policy documents in NEP 2020 also assures of 6 % out softly for successful implementation.
GDP Budget to education but for provisions and 6. Bottom-up approach
implementation the NEP 2020 document only says, Central Bottom-line approach is acceptable by all areas of life. This
and State Governments will make efforts for such social and educational transformation is only possible with a
allocations. When the Central Government is facing bottom-up grass-root level intervention which will enhance
resource crisis during global slowdown of economies and and bring a massive change in the mindset of the
Covid -19 severe and negative impact of economies stakeholders, including the office staff and parents, right at
becoming standstill, how one can expect that during the the outset. A transformation is needed from ‘what to think’
revamping of economies education sector will get due share and ‘how to think’.
and use full resource. At least next 3/4 years are challenging 7. Building public house for Remote school teachers
for countries recover their economies from Covid-19 impact. Teacher is regarded as the most respected and essential
members of our society, as they are the ones who truly shape
Over 250 million students are expected to enroll in schools
our next generation of citizens. Work also needs to be done
in India by 2030. With a teacher-student ratio of 1:35, India
in removing personal and professional barriers of working in
needs an estimated 7 million plus teachers to address this
remote, inaccessible locations which is crucial for preparing
huge student population. Those teachers need to have
this workforce and also for making the NEP successful.
graduated in an esteemed B.Ed. programme for a 12th pass,
8. Digital connectivity
graduates and post-graduates for one, two and four-year
We require internet penetration in remote areas because e-
respectively. Teaching also happens to be one of the lowest-
learning is the way forward, as witnessed during the
paid professions in India. Due to these constraints,
pandemic. Digital infrastructure for this purpose will include
conceptual and experiential teaching will be tough as
digital classrooms, expertise-driven online teaching models,
compared to the prevailing printed content-oriented
AR/VR technologies to overcome gaps in physical teaching
teaching. More fund allocation is required from the
and lab infrastructure, uniform assessment schemes across
government’s end to overcome this major shortcoming.
schools, career counselling sessions and teacher training to
Also, the current pool of teachers has to be orientated
become skilful at new-age technologies. According to the
towards the new-age teaching techniques.
NSS conducted by the National Statistical Office in 2016-
In the proposals of NEP 2020 budget of higher education is
17, only 23.4 percent of people in cities and only 4.4 percent
limited. It requires private institutions to offer more
of people in villages have computers. In all, only 23.7 per
scholarships to make admissions possible for students from
cent of people in India have access to the internet. It is 42
low-income strata as well, but NEP fails to discuss how this
percent in urban areas and only 14.9 percent in rural areas.
can be achieved. This indicates a need for greater public
Only 11 per cent of students in this country have online
funding in higher education, which in reality does not sit
services. This will continue to be a major challenge in the
well within the current scenario. The increase in education
next decade.
budget up to 6% percent of GDP is simply not enough to
meet the implementation needs.
Conclusion
3. Need to create trained teachers
To conclude we can say that the NEP 2020 made a full
NEP proposes to add three years to a child’s education
attempt to design a policy that considers diverse viewpoints,
through ECCE for the age-group 3-6 years. As per
global best practices in education, field experiences and
international norms, the idea is to prepare the child for
stakeholders’ feedback. The mission is aspirational but the
primary school through play, activities, nutrition and care so
implementation roadmap will decide if this will truly foster
as to aid cognitive growth and learning abilities in a safe and
an all-inclusive education that makes learners industry and
caring environment. This requires adequately trained
future ready.
persons who are given due recognition as professionals
performing specialised roles in the education and child care
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Global Journal of Applied Engineering in Computer Science and Mathematics (GJAECSMA) – Special Edition 1 – Apr 2022
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