Aimed to significantly overhaul several aspects of Indian education system, the new education policy might dissect out cramming, reports Priyanka Srivastava
03.08.2020
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced recently is set to change the face of education ecosystem. In the coming time, we may also hope to see bright young adults with innovative approach towards work and life, instead of pawns obsessing over marks.
Thirty-four years ago, in 1986 when the Rajiv Gandhi-led government changed the education policy, the focus was on ‘operation blackboard’ to strengthen the primary school system. Keeping in view the changing demands, the NEP 2020 now aims to offer skill-oriented education. Change is possible if all the measures introduced are implemented in a structured way. Kiran Hazarika, member of University Grants Commission (UGC), Principal, Tengakhat College, Assam, who was associated with the formulation of NEP is hopeful of the positive outcome in another decade. “This will lead to liberal education in the coming times. We will save the youth from unnecessarily running after degrees,” he tells Education Times.
“The transformation of education will modify the psyche of the coming generation as we will have an educated population armed with innovative thinking,” says Hazarika.
Knowledge Hub
Academics have hailed the policy as an important step to transform India into a knowledge hub. “Besides incorporating the ethos of Indian philosophy, it has also incorporated Sustainable Development Goals at the undergraduate level. Inclusive education from foundation to professional level will help in the long run,” says TG Sitharam, director, IIT Guwahati.
Entrepreneurial mindset
With most sectors moving to the digital platform, India needs to create an army of tech-enabled youngsters willing to take calculated risks. “Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity and stronger conceptual understanding will encourage students to become self-motivated learners,” says Byju Raveendran, Founder & CEO, BYJU'S.
Since Indian students were branded as products of rote-learning, systematic change towards innovation may prove beneficial. “Increased focus on the application rather memorisation is much needed. Having championed the inclusion of 21st century skills in the curriculum, things will change,” says Sriram Subramanian, CEO, Callido Learning, Mumbai.
Multi-disciplinary learning
As the NEP emphasises on offering the exit-re-entry option in HEIs, credit transfer across universities and making all streams equal has come as a breather for students who were getting suffocated of the water-tight compartmentalisation. “Rote learning is passé and with vocational training making headway into mainstream curriculum, a mechanical/electrical engineer can finally fix a motorcycle/fan. Universities will no longer just survive on students’ tuition fees but research funding from corporates,” says Rajesh Panda, founder & CEO, Corporate Gurukul, Singapore.
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