How the New Education Policy 2020, & Philanthropy can Revolutionize the Education Sector of India?

• Sakal India Foundation
• March 1, 2021
• Post Views: 915

The New Education Policy (NEP 2020) was a much-needed reform for the education sector of India. This kind of revolutionary reform is significant to overhaul the country’s current education system. Under this new education policy, various rational steps have been introduced to improvise the pedagogical methods.

New Education Policy 2020 :

• NEP 2020, will replace the 10+2 schooling system in India with a new 5+3+3+4 system, covering the age group of 3-18 years. Children will spend 5 years in the Foundational stage, 3 years in the Preparatory stage, 3 years in the Middle stage, and 4 years in the Secondary stage.
• School complexes to be used after school hours and public library spaces for adult education courses and other community engagement and enrichment activities.
• By 2025, at least 50% of students through the school and higher education system will get exposure to Vocational education.
• The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will develop high-quality modules to teach Indian Sign Language and teach other basic subjects using Indian Sign Language.
• Pre-schools covering at least one year of Early Childhood Care & Education will be included in the Central Board schools and other primary schools around the nation, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
• The policy will encourage opening NCC wings in Central & State Government secondary and higher secondary schools, including those located in tribal-dominated areas.
• Free boarding facilities will be built for students who belong from socio-economically backward backgrounds.
• A dedicated unit of digital and online learning will be established to look after the e-education needs of both school and higher education.
• National Scholarship Portal for SC, ST, OBC, and SEDGs students, to be expanded to support, and track the progress of students receiving scholarships. Sakal India Foundation hailed this step of the Government to incentivize the merit of students
• Higher Education Commission of India(HECI), will be set up as a single overarching umbrella body for entire higher education, excluding medical and legal education. HECI to have four independent verticals – National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, General Education Council (GEC ) for standard-setting, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and National Accreditation Council( NAC) for accreditation.
• Every state/district will be encouraged to establish “Bal Bhavans” as a special daytime boarding school, to participate in art-related, career-related, and play-related activities. And various new provisions for children with disabilities.
• Bagless days will be encouraged throughout the year for various enrichment activities involving, arts, quizzes, sports, and vocational crafts.
• The three-language learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and the students, so at least two of the three languages are native to India.
• The medium of instruction will be the local/ regional language until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
• Students will be given increased flexibility and choice of subjects to study, particularly in secondary school, including, subjects in physical education, the arts and crafts, and vocational skills.
• Experiential learning in all stages. Content will focus on the idea, application, problem- solving.
• The National Testing Agency (NTA) will offer a high-quality general aptitude test, specialized common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, at least twice every year for university entrance exams.
• Students will get a 360-degree holistic report card. The importance of the Board exam to be reduced, an exam can be conducted twice a year.
• Coding will be taught, from class 6 onwards. E-courses to be in eight major languages, not just English and Hindi.
• The health & nutrition (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.
• NEP 2020 has set the target to increase the public investment in the education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

Reforms in the school curriculum to allow vocational skill training, holistic Report Card, and local language as a medium of instruction will be part of the initial reforms. It will be the responsibility of individual schools to change the format of the report card by 2022. State governments also need to work out the implementation and plan of action. The real test of implementing the reforms will be on the different states and how private schools adapt to these changes.

According to Government data, there are 239.9 million students enrolled across government, aided, and private schools in India. India has 1.5 million schools, including 1.08 million government schools, 84,614 aided schools, and 3,25,760 private schools. NEP 2020 has set a target budget of 6% of GDP for the education sector. But today in Budget 2021, there is a 6% cut in the allocation for the education sector to Rs 93,223 crore from Rs 99,311 crore, as per the budgetary proposals. Education ministry officials termed the cut “rationalisation” on account of the Covid-19 exigency.

The pandemic COVID-19 adverse impact is evident in every sector around the world. The education sector of India is badly affected by this. Due to the nationwide lockdown, many student’s lives were affected adversely. Many students and learners have stopped going to schools/colleges due to the decline in family income.

Today there is a huge demand in the Education sector, and here Philanthropy can play a big role in supporting underprivileged students through Scholarships & financial aids. NEP 2020 has increased funds for the National Scholarship Portal. But it is not enough to support all the deserving & talented students of India.

“Education gives you wings to fly” — Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

Every last child deserves the opportunity to learn!

Here the Non for profit trusts can step in and collaborate with Philanthropists and active donors to give education Scholarships as much as possible to needy students. Sakal India Foundation (SIF) is one of the trustable NGOs, that has been working for Education and Children for the last six decades. Sakal India Foundation has grant scholarships and financial aid as a gift to thousands of students, teachers, professionals, social workers with outstanding merit, including potential for leadership, for higher studies in India and abroad irrespective of their caste, creed, sex, and religion.

Any donation, big or small can help a child in need! You can make a difference by empowering life with education.