By Riya Kalra
Video Link: https://youtu.be/bIYcaVVM_VU
The new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 introduced several changes in the Indian education system from the school to the college level. The NEP 2020 aims at making “India a global knowledge superpower”.
The essential elements and advantages were discussed by Mr. Ravi kumar in the previous lecture like -
#This Policy aims to facilitate a participatory and holistic approach, which takes into consideration field experiences, research, stakeholder feedback, as well as lessons learned from best practices.
#It is a progressive shift towards a more scientific approach to education. The prescribed structure will help to cater to the ability of the child in terms of social and physical awareness. If implemented in s true vision, the new structure can bring India at par with the leading countries of the world.
An intern(Shubhangi Aggarwal) who presented the webinar highlighted some beneficial points of policy -
#There would be an emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular, vocational streams in schools.
#Students will be taught up to at least Grade 5 to be in their mother tongue/regional language. No language will be imposed on any student
#Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Internships.
#It also paves the way for foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
#National Institute for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit, Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation to be set up.
Mr.Ravi kumar also discussed the impact on language development with special guest Mr. Prabhat Ranjan. The NEP recommends that all students will learn three languages in their school under the 'formula'. At least two of the three languages should be native to India. And Several foreign languages will also be offered at the secondary level. There will be a new Indian Translation and Interpretation Mission to meet needs creating high-quality instructional material in home language/mother tongue.
Also, Rakesh Shrivastav, a French linguist and senior consultant at Tata Consultancy Services criticized the policy that instead of tackling the real issues such as the number of government schools, the quality of teaching in such schools, and the strategy of the central government to bring more children into formal mode education by earmarking more funds for public-funded education, the new NEP measures openly advocates informatization of education both at secondary and higher levels.
Change is possible if all the measures introduced in NEP 2020 are implemented in a structured way. Emphasizing equity and inclusivity, the real outcome of the NEP would be realized when the children in poor and rural areas get access to education.
