About;
1. The NEP (National Education Policy) is based on consultations between various stakeholders and also includes the reports of TSR Subramanian and K Kasturirangan committees.
2. It was the third education policy promulgated by the centre, the first was in 1968 and then in 1986.
3. The NEP focuses not only on the quantitative but also on the qualitative development across the education spectrum.
Positives;
1. It breaks the stereotypical divide of arts, commerce and science streams in high schools by emphasising on practicality and skill development.
2. It allows foreign universities to establish branches in India to promote research and development.
3. The policy moves from a period of inspections to self assessment and involuntary declaration with transparency.
4. The four verticals consisting of standard setting, funding, accreditation and regulation will provide light but tight oversight.
5. It also promotes early childhood development and seeks to reduce the dropout rate by putting in place different forms of assessment.
6. It also focuses on essential learning,critical thinking and also on the centrality of teacher and teacher education.
7. The NEP aims to bring 2 crore out of school children back into the mainstream.
8. The policy aims at 100% gross enrollment ratio in school education by 2030, 50% GER in higher education by 2025 (currently at 25%).
Challenges;
1. The issue of access, equity, infrastructure, governance and learning have to work in tandem to drive India's growth modernization and structural transformation.
2. The policy aims to increase the spending on education from 3.2 % of GDP to 6% , but mobilizing funds would be difficult because of resource crunch, low tax to GDP ratio and competing development requirements.
3. The success of NEP would also be dependent on the government’s other policies such as the new industrial policy, digital India, skill India, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for local program.
BY-RISHABYH GOYAL