The union cabinet passed the long-pending New Education Policy which will concentrate on systemic improvements and outcome-based education models. The policy amendment has happened after over three decades when the last changes in the Education Policy of India were constructed.
We’ve listed the major takeaways from the New Education Policy along with what’s good and bad with it:
New Education Policy [ All you need to know]
Single Regulator
The HRD Ministry will now be known as the Education Ministry. 6% of GDP to be allocated to education. The UGC and AICTE will be merged to form a single regulator called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). There will be one common entrance exam for all higher education institutes to be organized by NTA which will be optional. It will be held 2 times a year.
What’s Good: This might reduce the pain of the students as earlier they had to fish for different forms for different institutes.
What’s Bad: Having a common entrance exam might increase a rat-race and it sounds too idealistic as they promise to include every type of institution present in India.
Foreign Colleges in India
Top 100 foreign colleges will be allowed to open their branches in India. Indian SAT will be conducted. Many more UG colleges will be given Autonomy in administrative and financial matters based on their accreditation.
What’s Good: Students will get a chance to study from esteemed global universities.
What’s Bad: The government should have improved the quality of existing government institutions before inviting foreign institutions.
Courses
The MPhil will be discontinued as a course. Institutions like IITs will be asked to become more holistic and have more courses in Arts and Humanities. Board exam questions and exam will be based on knowledge application rather than rote learning. The questions will be more objective and descriptive. Children will disabilities will be enabled to fully participate in the regular schooling process from the foundational stage to higher education, with support of education.
What’s Good: This will increase the spectrum of courses offered by esteemed institutions like IIT.
What’s Bad: Removing MPhil isn’t a breakthrough as even earlier one could pursue a Ph.D. without MPhil. It was never obligatory.
Streams
No more rigid break up of Arts, Commerce, and Science. Students can choose a combination of courses. Experimental learning will be encouraged. No more cut-offs to take certain courses. For instance, earlier there used to be eligibility criteria for at least 70% to take any Science subject. This won’t be there any longer.
What’s Good: There will be diverse learning modules for students.
What’s Bad: The provision of experimental learning already existed in IB schools. They’re simply replacing CBSE and ICSE patterns with IB.
Languages
Sanskrit will become part of the three-language formula and be given more value in secondary and higher education. Sanskrit universities will be developed into multidisciplinary institutions. Online courses will be available in regional languages for at least 8 regional languages. Computer languages will be taught from the 6th standard.
What’s Good: The regional languages will get the required importance.
What’s Bad: Earlier, taking Sanskrit used to be a choice. Now, it will be a compulsion.
School System
The school system has been divided into 5+3+3+4 module: 5 years of primary school (LKG to 2nd standard), 3 years of preparatory stage (3 to 5), 3 years in the middle stage (6 to 8) and 4 years in secondary stage (9-12). Nutrition and health (including mental health) of children will be addressed, through healthy meals and regular health check-ups, and health cards will be issued to monitor the same.
What’s Good: Finally, the authorities will be paying attention to a student’s mental health.
What’s Bad: There’s nothing bad but the school system is simply old wine in a new bottle, as this arrangement has been there since the beginning.
College Level
The integration of UG and PG courses for a 5-year course can be considered. College credit transfer and academic bank of credit will also be considered. Plans are to include Undergraduate programs of three and four years and postgraduate programs of one and two years.
What’s Good: This will be a boon for all the students who struggle to get admission in PG courses.
What’s Bad: Again, it’s not completely new as universities like IGNOU and Amity were already providing such courses.
School Space Use
The school complexes will be used after school hours and even public libraries will be used for adult education courses which will be ICT-equipped. A sampling of important vocational crafts, such as carpentry, electric work, metalwork, gardening, pottery making, etc during Grades 6-8. Free boarding facilities will be built matching the standard of Jawahar Navodya Vidyalayas particularly for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
What’s Good: Importance is being given to vocational courses and boarding facilities will be built in schools.
What’s Bad: IGNOU has been using various school complexes for adult education courses ever since the beginning, so again, it’s not a new step altogether.
Although The New Education Policy has taken fairly good measures, more than privatizing education or changing the study pattern they should also concentrate on the quality of educations provided by institutions and their teachers. Many teachers and assistant professors lose their jobs because they don’t have any job security. If there wouldn’t be any good educators, I wonder who will provide quality education to the students. You can also take a look at all the rescue operations conducted by Indian Armed Forces by clicking here.
