In a major development, the Narendra Modi government has approved the National Education Policy 2020, the first time in 34 years. The Ministry of Human Resource and Development has also renamed to Ministry of Education.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said,
“The Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval to new education policy for the 21st century. It is important as for 34 years there were no changes in the education policy.”
In a major development, the medium of instruction for teaching until the 5th grade will be the mother tongue of the student. The board exams will also have low stakes apparently and will supposedly test the actual-knowledge than rote learning. The report cards too will be a comprehensive report on skills and capabilities instead of marks and statements that is there today.
Focus On Basic Literacy
The National Education Policy 2020 aims to focus on basic literacy and basic numeracy and hence the pedagogical structure has also been changed. The government has also promised that there will be no separations between curricular and extra-curricular. The government aims to have 50 percent gross enrollment ratio by the year 2035 and will have a provision of multiple entry and exit.
Taking forward the Digital India initiative, the government will also develop e-courses not only in English but also in regional languages. The government also revealed that there are over 45,000 affiliated colleges in the country including under graded autonomy, academic, administrative, and financial autonomy. The rules and regulations for deemed universities, central universities, and for individual standalone institutions as well. The norms will be the same in terms of reasons for quality, norms will be the same for all & not as per ownership.
