New Delhi: Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi clears the New National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This was announced by the government on Wednesday in New Delhi. This comes after a wait of 34 years. Cabinet also approved the changing of name of Ministry of Human Resource Development to Education Ministry.
NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. At least 3.5 crore new seats will be added to higher education institutions,” Union higher education secretary Amit Khare said at the press briefing on Wednesday.
School Education secretary Anita Karwal says there are path breaking reforms in the policy. She lists out the important takeaways in the NEP. Universalisation of early childhood care education has been included. NCERT will develop curriculum, she says.
There will be a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.Subject introduction and exploration will be in middle school.Coding will be taught from Class VI.
There will be no rigid separation between arts and sciences, curricular and extra-curricular. All subjects like music will be taught.Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya will be extended to class 12.Vocational integration will be from class 6, internships will be included. Students can intern with local crafts and trades for 10 days. For example, a student can work at a local laundry.The NEP plans to reduced the importance of Board exams. Board exams to be split into two parts – objective and descriptive.Medium of instruction should be mother tongue or regional language till class 5, preferably till class 8.Report cards will include students’ self-assessment as well as by teachers.
The new NEP also says that the mother tongue to be a medium of instruction till fifth grade. Sanskrit to be offered at all school levels and higher education as option, including in three-language formula. On the other hand M Phil to be discontinued.
NEP drafting committee was chaired by Dr K Kasturirangan.
