This is the First Education Policy of the 21st century based on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.

It is also aligned to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

The policy aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.

Language issue

The final policy document makes it clear that no language will be imposed on any State.

The three languages learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and of also the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India, which is an excellent perspective and largely beneficial to our children.

Other features in the new policy

• A National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will ensure basic skills at the Class 3 level by 2025.
• Students will begin classes on Coding as well as vocational activities from Class 6 onwards.
• Indian knowledge systems, including tribal and indigenous knowledge, will also be incorporated into the curriculum in an accurate and scientific manner.
• Schools will not have any rigid form of streams of Arts, Commerce, Science and students can take up whichever courses they want. This is Amazing.

Assessment and Evaluation

Keeping the board exams for Class 10 and 12, the new education policy intends to make them easier by testing only “core capacities” of students. “Boards may over time also develop further viable models of Board Exams, such as -annual/semester/modular Board Exams; offering all subjects beginning with mathematics, at two levels; two parts exams or objective type and descriptive type,” the NEP highlights on schools says.

Assessment will be done through a “multidimensional report” of students appearing for the board exam. Apart from teachers’ assessment, the progress card will include self-assessment and peer assessment. Apart from board exams, the policy proposes “school exams” in Classes 3, 5 and 8.

Under the NEP 2020, a National Assessment Centre ‘PARAKH’ -Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development will be set up. The body will be responsible for suggesting guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards, including state boards, over which the Centre has thus far exercised no control. To prepare the students for University entrance exams, the National Testing Agency, or NTA will offer high-quality aptitude tests like SAT EXAM in USA, twice a year. The tests will be offered in sciences, humanities and vocational subjects.

'Experiential learning'

The new education policy will make way for learning with critical thinking along with “discovery-based, discussion-based, and analysis-based learning”. There will be “bagless days” and visits to local craftsmen and the possibility of vocational training from Class 6.

Implementing competency-based learning, NEP 2020 has provided room for flexibility and choice of subjects to study, particularly in secondary school. Students will be allowed to choose physical education, the arts and crafts, and vocational skills as per their preference.

*National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) which will regularly check the recruitment and quality of Teachers.

NEP 2020 is an excellent policy , a long awaited one and in the nutshell it completely focuses on not only acquiring KNOWLEDGE, but also on the Application of Knowledge through SKILL based LEARNING, thus UPGRADING THE INTELLECT TO INTELLIGENCE DISPELLING IGNORANCE.

IMPLEMENTATION, INTEGRATION and EXECUTION is the Key. It's a Mammoth Task.

போற்றுவார் போற்றட்டும் புழுதி வாரித்
தூற்றுவார் தூற்றட்டும் தொடர்ந்து சொல்வேன்
ஏற்றதொரு கருத்தை எனதுள்ளம் என்றால் எடுத்துரைப்பேன்.