HPAS Mains 2021/22 Answer Writing Challenge Day 33: 12-11-2021

Discuss the new provision made under National Education Policy 2020. How does it has extended the right to Education in the nation?                                                                                                                                8 Marks

Introduction – Education is cardinal in inculcating values, to provide skills and competencies to the citizens, and in enabling them to contribute to the nation’s well-being; strengthens democracy by empowering citizens; acts as a cohesive force in society, and fosters national identity. One cannot over -emphasize the role of Education as the key catalyst for promoting socio-economic mobility in building an equitable and just society.

Need of the Policy – The National Education Policy (NEP) aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary. NEP suits to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student. Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Salient Features of the National Education Policy 2020

1. NEP emphasizes on vocational education at secondary level that is from class 6^th onwards. This will provide high chances of greater employability.

2. NEP is an effort to take education out of the clutches of rote learning and mugging up of information. It has given higher weightage to internal assessment rather than orientation towards a single day exam. knowledge and academic is a pursuit and a process of constant learning.

3. Education will be more holistic now. Earlier in Higher education insularity and compartmentalization was there. But, now combination of subjects could be there. Barriers will be lifted between humanities and science.

4. Holistic Undergraduate education with a flexible curriculum can be of 3 or 4 years with multiple exit options and appropriate certification within this period. A student can exit after 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th year with diploma, graduation and research degree respectively. In four years UG Programme, 4th year should be reserved for research. After that one can go directly into research.

5. Replaced 10+2 model with new 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling.

6. NEP recommends teaching in mother tongue or vernacular language upto class 5 so that children find it easy. This provision is at the discretionary of state government.

NEP and Right to Education

1. New Policy aims for Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % GER in school education by 2030. This policy extends Right to Education from 3 – 18 Years earlier it was 6-14 Years. That is Free and compulsory education up to class 12.

2. Nursery Education and Early Childhood Care is the part of RTE. The shift in the focus to three to six years is because 80% of cognitive brain development occurs in this time frame only. Thus, Formal school, Play school like Anganwadi, simulate their cognitive brain activity.

Conclusion – Education is a potent tool for socio-economic transformation of society. The need of quality education is for the poor and deprived but they get the worst of the quality because of the pathetic conditions of the government schools. Therefore, present system of education ensures the continuity of economic class. Present method of classroom teaching does not support creativity, curiosity, inquisitiveness and questioning is not being promoted by teachers. This new NEP could be helpful in achieving these distant dreams.