National Education Policy 2020 Highlights

The new National Education Policy (NEP) which aims to revamp all aspects of India’s education system and bring it closer to the best global standards has been unveiled by the Ministry of Education on July 30. The new NEP replaces the one formulated 34 year ago in 1986. A committee led by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief Dr. K Kasturirangan formed the National Education Policy 2020 on the foundational pillars of ‘Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.

This National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century. It aims to have an education system that ensures equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners regardless of social and economic background. The Policy lays particular emphasis on the development of the creative potential of each individual, in all its richness and complexity. 

It is based on the principle that education must develop not only cognitive skills – both ‘foundational skills’ of literacy and numeracy and ‘higher-order’ cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem solving – but also social and emotional skills – also referred to as ‘soft skills’ – including cultural awareness and empathy, perseverance and grit, teamwork, leadership, communication, among others.

In the post below we have tried to highlight the key changes in the policy which has been announced.

Key Highlights of NEP 2020

Higher Education

  • 50 % Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035
  • Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education -Flexibility of Subjects
    • Multiple Entry / Exit
    • UG Program – 3 or 4 year
    • PG Program – 1 or 2 year
    • Integrated 5 year Bachelor’s / Master’s
    • M Phil to be discontinued
  • Credit Transfer and Academic Bank of Credits
  • HEIs : Research Intensive/Teaching Intensive Universities and Autonomous Degree Granting Colleges
  • Model Multidisciplinary Education and Research University (MERU)
  • Graded Autonomy : Academic, Administrative & Financial
  • Phasing out Affiliation System in 15 years
  • National Mission on Mentoring
  • Independent Board of Governors (BoG)
  • Single Regulator for Higher Education (excluding Legal and Medical)
  • On-line Self Disclosure based Transparent System for Approvals in place of ‘Inspections’
  • Common Norms for Public and Private HEIs
    • Private Philanthropic Partnership
    • Fee fixation within Broad Regulatory Framework
  • Public Investment in Education Sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest
  • National Research Foundation (NRF)
  • Internationalisation of Education
  • Integration of Vocational, Teacher and Professional Education
  • Setting up of New Quality HEIs has been made Easier
  • Standalone HEIs and Professional Education Institutions will evolve into
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Special Education Zone for Disadvantaged Regions
  • National Institute for Pali, Persian and Prakrit
  • National Educational Technology Forum (NETF)
  • MHRD to be renamed as M/o Education

School Education

  • Universalization of Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE)
  • National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
  • 5+3+3+4 Curricular and Pedagogical Structure
  • Curriculum to integrate 21st Century Skills, Mathematical Thinking and Scientific temper
  • No Rigid Separation between Arts & Sciences, between Curricular and extra-Curricular activities, between Vocational and Academic streams
  • Education of Gifted Children
  • Gender Inclusion Fund
  • KGBVs upto Grade 12
  • Reduction in Curriculum to Core Concepts
  • Vocational integration from class 6 onwards
  • New National Curriculum Framework for ECE, School, Teachers and Adult Education
  • Board Examination will be Low Stakes, Based on Knowledge Application
  • Medium of Instruction till at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond in Home Language / Mother tongue/ Regional Language
  • 360 degree Holistic Progress Card of Child
  • Tracking Student Progress for Achieving Learning Outcomes
  • National assessment center – PARAKH
  • NTA to offer Common Entrance Exam for Admission to HEIs
  • National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST)
  • Book Promotion Policy and Digital Libraries
  • Transparent online self disclosure for public oversight and accountability

Use of Technology

Use of Technology in

  • Education Planning
  • Teaching, Learning & Assessment
  • Administration & Management
  • Regulation – Self Disclosure & Minimum Human Interface
  • Increasing Access for Disadvantaged Groups
  • Divyang Friendly Education Software
  • e-Content in Regional Languages
  • Virtual Labs
  • National Educational Technology Forum (NETF)
  • Digitally Equipping Schools, Teachers and Students

Indian Knowledge Systems, Languages, Culture and Values

  • Focus on Literature & Scientific Vocabulary of Indian Languages
  • Language Faculty
  • Research on Languages
  • Strengthening National Institutes for promotion of Classical
  • Languages & Literature
  • Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI)
  • Cultural Awareness of our Indian Knowledge Systems
  • Promoting Traditional Arts / Lok Vidya
  • HEI / School or School Complex to have Artist(s)-in-Residence Implementation

Implementation of NEP 2020

The implementation of this Policy will be led by various bodies including MoE, RSA, Union and State Governments, education-related Ministries, State Departments of Education, Boards, NTA, the regulatory bodies of school and higher education, NCERT, SCERTs, schools, and HEIs along with timelines and a plan for review, in order to ensure that the policy is implemented in its spirit and intent.

To check out more details on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 click here