The New Education Policy: Good or Bad?

The New Education Policy 2020

The NEP 2020 has grabbed our attention. So in this article we will analyse it's pros and cons.

First let's see what the entire policy is about.

The NEP has been modified after three decades. The revolution in the education system of India is something that  is surely a prerequisite for it's development. The NEP gives importance to high quality education and holistic development.

The pro points in this reform are:

1. Practical approach with respect to education:  

There will be focus on skill-based learning by providing vocational trainings at an early age, application of knowledge and it's also written in the draft, that it will be inclusive in terms of women, underprivileged and marginalized minorities. Also there will be reduction in the curriculum to minimize rote learning.

2. The rigid separation of the three streams:

We have been choosing between the streams humanities, commerce and science with their own set of subjects i.e if you have taken Arts you can't opt for subjects like physics or accounts with political science but now it will be possible with the NEP.

3. Transforming curricular and pedagogical structure:

The structure of 10+2 will be replaced by 5+3+3+4 i.e foundational stage, preparatory stage, middle stage and secondary stage.

Coding will be introduced in the 6th grade. The age for acquiring education will be replaced from 6-14 to 3-18, which is great as most of the brain development of a child occurs till the age of 8 years and students can grasp a lot of learnings. And there is provision for multiple entry/ exit.

4. Holistic Progress card:

This includes self assessment, peer assessment and teacher assessment which will give a thrust to the critical thinking ability and help in choosing career.

Due to these reasons majority of us have welcomed transformative the NEP. But wait, there's a flip side to it.

The cons of the NEP are:

1. Language:

The medium of education has been the topic of debates regarding the policy

If a South Indian gets transferred to North India, what will be the medium of education for the student?

If they are saying that coding will be introduced in the sixth grade, how will the students cope up when the software is in English.

2. Centralization of education

The education will be centralized under a single body. UGC, AICTE, NCTE will be removed. The NEP has been 'unilaterally' imposed after 'bypassing' all the objections and opposition recorded by various State governments, which is anti- democratic.

3. Theoretical not practical:

India is still struggling with proper classrooms, playgrounds, science labs, other equipments, toilets and other basic amenities in infrastructure of schools. Two third ie 68.8 percent in India is living in poverty.

The most recent example is, during the pandemic people had to sell their cow for buying a smartphone so that their children could attend online classes.

One out of every 5 teachers are always absent, if this is the case, how will there be guidance for vocational trainings?

These were the cons for NEP.

So I would conclude by saying that there are both positive and negative aspects to the NEP, the government should tackle the cons of the policy.

It all sounds revolutionalising but the real transformation will be seen through its implementation which needs arduous and meticulously planned efforts. Let's co-operate, give our opinions, listen to others opinions and hope for the best!

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