National Education Policy: A Conundrum!

02 Mar National Education Policy: A Conundrum!

Posted at 02 Mar 2021 in Current Affairs, Education, Governance, GS Paper II, Social Issues by Ajit Satapathy 0 Comments

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(Indian Express)

Context:

The Cabinet had approved the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020.
This policy will result in dynamic changes to the education policy of the country. It also renames the Ministry of Human Resource Development as the Ministry of Education.
Its main objective to make India a global superpower in the education sector.
This is the third major remodeling of the framework of education in India post-independence.
Before this, education policies were introduced in 1968 and 1986.
Dr. K. Kasturirangan led the committee that prepared the National Education Policy.

Main principles of the policy:

Critical thinking
Flexibility
Conceptual understanding
Teachers as the heart of the learning process
No tight separations between subjects, curricular and extra-curricular activities
Multi-disciplinary education
Ethical Values
A robust public education system

Arguments for New Education Policy 2020:

NEP seeks to address the entire education system, from pre-school to even post-doctorate.

It gives a sense of autonomy to schools through self-declaration and free from regular inspections.

It proposes the creation of inclusion funds to help and promote socially and educationally disadvantaged children to pursue education.

Critics of NEP:

Increased stress on the mother tongue as a medium of instruction not only implicates the marginalized but also especially in a country where English is grossly associated with employability and privilege, puts a restriction as well.
The lack of playgrounds for children is mentioned in the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It further restricts the overall growth from an early age.
The biggest criticism against the NEP has been that it would drive towards the privatization of higher education, which is against social justice.
It aims to gradually phase out the affiliation system of Universities in 15 years and grant autonomy to colleges which will again be a cake-walk for privatization.

Way Ahead:

It must come up with a collective strategy with states over the three-language formula, as education is a matter in the concurrent list.
Children and parents must be at the center of implementation plans and providing autonomy must not just be in the letter but also in spirit.
Without linking NEP to RTE for the goal of universalization of education at the pre-primary, middle, and secondary levels. Without this legal framework, the target of the vision will hardly be ever materialized.
To ensure equal opportunities for all the policy must incorporate the Common School System.