Indian Education System 2021 – The beginning of a Change!

There was a time when every aspirant followed the paths set by the unsound education system of the nation. But the new education policy 2020 has set the wheels in a whole new direction! Now it would be the education system following the students’ passion and interest in higher education.

How it all started?

After the last major change brought into the Indian Education System with education being a fundamental right (in effect since April 2010) for children, the year 2020 adds the next milestone in the nations’ education history.

In 2016, Smriti Irani, the then HRD Minister vouched for several changes in the education system with a vision to universalize and standardize the education system. Sooner that year, Smriti Irani was moved to the Textile Department and the proposal went cold. Years after that, in 2019 a secret team of 9 people was made headed by Dr. K Kasturirangan (Ex. Chairman of ISRO and Head of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi) who presented the final draft of the new education system. The objectives of the NEP 2020 was clear as;

1. To improve the overall quality of education imparted to the students
2. Enhance the credibility of education across the nation
3. To address all the gaps in implementation

On 29th July 2020, the cabinet passed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 announcing some ground-breaking amendments disrupting the humdrum education system. Well, while a lot of people do say the pandemic of No-Covid19 was the reason driving these changes, but a long history of appeals and call-out were also the important causes leading to the change.

NEP 2020: What’s New?

As per the National Education Policy 2020, the new things brought into our existing education system are:

1. The HRD Minister Department or the Department of Human Resources and Development got changed to the Ministry of Education currently headed by Ramesh Pokhriyal.

    

2. As per the new policy, India has to contribute 6% of its GDP to the education sector which saw a rise from the former spending of 3.1% GDP.

    

3. NEP 2020 also aims to achieve a 50% Gross Enrollment Ratio by 2035 indicating better educational opportunities to more students in the nation.

Changes for Students

It is no more 10+2, it is 5+3+3+4 standards of education.

1. For the foundational age group of 3-8, children will have primary education with class 1 and class 2. The focus of the study will be more towards language skills development, involvement of the student in activities, and adhering to fun-based teaching.
2. For the Preparatory age group of 8-11, children will be shifted to more interactive classroom sessions with more focus on enhancing language skills and numerical skills. They would be studying for classes 3 to 5 at their preparatory level.
3. For the mid-age group of 11-14 years, students will attend class 6 to class 8 where the courses will be inclined towards practical-based learning of science, maths, and arts. The syllabus would focus on critical learning goals and rote learning.
4. For secondary education level, students will be allotted from class 9 to class 12. The module will be divided into two divisions focusing on a multidisciplinary curriculum as well as co-curricular activities. At these stages, students will be mentored for higher and critical thinking, reasoning and logical abilities, understanding of their interests and passion as well as have a keen understanding to choose their future education.
5. The progress report card will be made based on a holistic approach taking into account the performance of the student in academic, practical, and extra-curricular activities, all combined.

The new syllabus is focused on the holistic learning of the students.

1. Students will be taught computer programming languages and coding from class 6. This system has been adopted by China long ago, and the development of the nation is right in front of our eyes.

    

2. Students up till class 6 will also be taught about their mother tongue.

    

3. Sanskrit and other languages & literature will be offered to students at all standards.
     
4. For students who are passionate about art and creativity, will be granted a sabbatical leave of 1 year from their active curriculum and can rejoin from where they left. This is a part of the initiative: Academic Bank of Credit. 

Things will also be different for students pursuing or aspiring to higher education.

1. There will be a single regulating body for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses except for Medical and Law courses. As planned, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) to the dedicated and sole regulatory body.

    

2. The only sad news for aspirants, MPhil is discontinued.

    

3. For high standard education, schools will be adhering to a Holistic Undergraduate Program where the student will have the liberty to choose and customize their degree courses based on their interest. This removed the long-drawn strict barrier between science, commerce, and art subjects allowing them to follow their passion.

    

4. The top prestigious colleges like the IITs, IIMs, IISc, etc will contribute towards fostering research and development studies. As a new venture,  Multidisciplinary Education and Research University(MERU) will be established to guide further research studies.

The overall motive of the new changes is definitely the upliftments of the Indian Education System indulging in equal importance given to vocational, Academic as well as Extra-Curricular Courses in India, the new education policy changed for the better of everyone’s future.

Undoubtedly, the forecast of the new education system provides a better opportunity for students with no negative points of NEP 2020. But the implementation of the new NEP 2020 can be a challenge given to the current war the nation is at with covid19. Many colleges and schools are yet shedding away their plans to start classroom programs at the soonest.