Issues with the National Education Policy (NEP)
Kartavya Desk Staff
#### Syllabus: Governance: Government Intervention and Policies/ Education
#### Source: IE
Context: The implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in India has faced significant challenges and criticism, highlighting several areas of failure.
What is National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?
National Education Policy was introduced in India (based on the recommendations of Kasturirangan and T.S.R. Subramanian committees), aiming to reform the education system from pre-primary to higher education levels. It focuses on universalizing education, adopting a flexible curriculum, promoting multilingualism, and integrating vocational education.
Major Features of NEP 2020:
• Universalization of education by 2030 through a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) from pre-primary to secondary.
• Open schooling system for out-of-school children, without admission requirements like NIOS.
• Adoption of a 5+3+3+4 curriculum system, replacing the existing 10+2 system.
• Teaching in mother tongue up to class 5 without imposition of any language.
• Broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic undergraduate education with a flexible curriculum, integration of vocational education, and multiple entries and exit points with respective degrees, including undergraduate programs in regional languages.
• Establishment of an Academic Bank of Credits to enable credit transfers between institutions.
• Introduction of HECI (Higher Education Commission of India) as an umbrella regulator, except for legal and medical education.
• Promotion of multilingualism in schools and colleges.
• Setting up of a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development)
• A separate Gender Inclusion fund and Special Education Zonesfor disadvantaged regions and groups
Significance of NEP 2020:
• Inclusive Education for All: NEP 2020 prioritizes inclusive education, accommodating diverse learner needs through early identification and intervention, with proposed Special Education Zones (SEZs) for students with disabilities.
• Reducing Disparities: Emphasis on equitable access to quality education, with initiatives like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan targeting underprivileged areas for infrastructure expansion.
• Multilingualism and Cultural Inclusion: Promotion of multilingualism and indigenous language preservation to foster cultural diversity and inclusivity.
• Gender Equity: Measures to promote girls’ enrollment and retention, including gender-sensitive curriculum development and establishment of women’s hostels.
• Vocational Education and Skill Development: Integration of vocational courses to provide practical skills for employment, benefiting students with diverse academic interests or limited access to traditional pathways.
Issues with the NEP:
• Reduction in Syllabus Content: Truncation of syllabi limits comprehensive understanding, as seen in the case of Walt Whitman’s poem “Passage to India,” now taught with only 68 lines instead of 255.
• Dilution of Core Subjects: Some institutions, like St Xavier’s University, Kolkata, focus on one major core subject per semester in programs like Economics Honours, potentially leading to insufficient knowledge in core fields.
• Administrative Overload: NEP mandates numerous exams and continuous assessments per semester, increasing bureaucratic burdens for students and educators.
• Pedagogical Change: Implementation challenges in introducing multi-language learning, foundational skills development, and value-based education, requiring thorough reexamination and adaptation of teaching methods.
• Assessment Rethinking: Need for reevaluation of school leaving exams, development of appropriate learning rubrics, and reforming school textbooks to align with the new educational paradigm.
• Educator Training: Essential to training teachers and educational staff to deliver child-centred, engaging learning experiences and foster joyful learning environments.
• Removing Barriers for Teachers: Addressing personal and professional barriers faced by teachers, especially in remote and inaccessible areas, to ensure the successful implementation of NEP.
• Funding and Pay Scale: Challenges in meeting the demand for qualified teachers and improving their pay scale to facilitate conceptual and experimental teaching methods.
• Funding Constraints: Challenges in fully implementing NEP proposals due to limited resources, necessitating increased scholarships and private sector involvement without clear strategies outlined in the policy.
• Digital Connectivity: Addressing the digital divide by ensuring internet access in remote areas, implementing digital classrooms, and providing training in AR/VR technologies to enhance learning experiences.
Major Initiatives under NEP 2020:
Initiative | Description
PM Schools for Rising India (SHRI) | A scheme aiming to provide high-quality, equitable, and joyful education in schools. Launched in September 2022 for the development of over 14,500 schools nationwide.
NIPUN Bharat | A mission focused on ensuring universal foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3 by 2026-27.
PM e-VIDYA | Initiative promoting online education and digital learning through platforms like DIKSHA and offering e-books and content to students.
NCF FS and Jadui Pitara | Introduction of National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) and Jadui Pitara for play-based learning for children aged 3 to 8 years.
NISHTHA | Capacity-building program for teachers and school principals in India.
NDEAR | National Digital Education Architecture blueprint for digital technology-based education applications.
Academic Frameworks | Introduction of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) to facilitate credit transfer and academic flexibility.
Increased Investment | Advocacy for the Central and State Governments to allocate a combined 6% of GDP to education.
International Campuses | Support for Indian universities to establish campuses abroad and invite foreign institutions to operate in India.
Educational Innovation | Initiative allowing specialized courses by foreign universities and institutions in Gujarat’s GIFT City, focusing on financial services and technology.
World-Class Institutions | Scheme aiming to create affordable, top-notch academic and research facilities, designating “Institutions of Eminence” (IoEs).
GIAN and SPARC | GIAN taps into expertise to enhance academic resources, while SPARC fosters research collaborations between Indian and foreign institutions.
Conclusion:
*“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”* To improve NEP, we should reassess its credit-based system, emphasizing core subjects for deeper knowledge. Cutting non-core courses can elevate academic standards. Stakeholder input is crucial for meaningful reforms in higher education.
Insta Links:
• Schemes under Ministry of Education
Mains Links:
How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate on your answer. (UPSC 2020)
Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. (USPC 2021)
Prelims Links:
Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (UPSC 2012)
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Rural and Urban Local Bodies
• Fifth Schedule
• Sixth Schedule
• Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 1, 2 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Ans- (d)