"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows " -Sydney.J.Harris

Education in India is poised at an interesting inflection point  On the one hand, it is set to shed an outdated model for the new National Education Policy 2020. On the other, new digital platforms of learning and innovative techniques of teaching are propelling it to global standards to create new benchmarks.A well-educated generation with a high literacy rate is equipped to undertake social, economic, and political roles responsibly with an overarching awareness of the global issues. Such is the vision embedded in the NEP 2020, which, when fully implemented, promises to make education holistic and a lot more rewarding.

As we pop up from the coronavirus pandemic and enter on a new academic year, it is important to clearly understand the potential of evolution in Indian education as a result of these three forces: NEP and the accompanying new platforms and techniques of teaching and learning.

NEP 2020, with its provisions of redecorating the curriculum structure, assessment criteria and regulations, promises a brand-new approach to teaching and learning. The new 5+3+3+4 formula provides a strong underpinning with the first five years dedicated to foundational learning, followed by a regularly assessed academic growth through the preparatory, middle and secondary stages.

Key features of NEP 2020:-

1. Holistic development for students of all grades 

NEP will inspire a shift from rote learning to in-depth understanding. The curriculum content will be reduced to core essentials and create more space for critical thinking, discussions, and analysis. Teaching and learning will be more interactive, exploratory, collaborative, and experiential.

2. Flexibility in choice of subjects 

Students will enjoy far greater flexibility in choice of subjects, with no hard separation between the streams of arts, humanities, commerce and sciences.

3. Skill development 

The proposal of a year long course in grade 6-8 in carpentry, electric work, gardening, pottery, metal work etc. will help in skill development.

4.Better student assessment

NEP 2020 proposes Standardized state school exams for grades 3, 5 and 8. Board exams for 10 and 12. Exams to test literacy, numeracy, and foundational skills will be very important.

New platforms and techniques of teaching-learning

5. Digital revolution pedagogical innovations are perpetually creating new platforms of learning and techniques for teaching. 

NEP 2020 will further open the field for creativity. NEP envisions an autonomous body named National Educational Technology Forum to provide a platform for exchanging ideas and using technology to enrich teaching-learning experience.

E-learning platforms such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM & SWAYAMPRABHA will offer teaching and learning e-content. Blended learning is going to be the complementary mode of education.

 The beginning of change 

The Union Budget 2021-22 has already set the ball rolling with the announcement to qualitatively strengthen 15,000 schools across India to implement NEP. These shall serve as model schools for the others to follow. Going forward, the education sector must harness the forces of technology and pedagogy to further bolster the benefits accruing from NEP. That shall set Indian education on a rising curve of evolution.

Shikha Rathore

Primary Incharge