The National Education Policy 2020 turned three this year. During these years, various steps have been taken to implement the NEP across the country. Read on to know the importance and progress of the transformative approach.
Vision of NEP 2020
Transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower through broad-based, flexible, multidisciplinary education suited to 21st-century needs.
Bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.
Promote critical thinking rather than rote learning, focus on learning instead of studying, encouragement to scientific temperament.
Policy for 21st Century India/ Atmanirbhar Bharat
Integration of Global with Local
Instilling among learners a deep-rooted pride in being Indian and developing knowledge, skills and values that make them truly global citizens.
Major Highlights
NEP 2020 aims for Universalisation of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % GER in school education by 2030
NEP 2020 will bring 20 million out of school children back into the main stream
New 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of schooling and 3 years of pre-schooling will be introduced.
Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no rigid separation between academic streams, extracurricular streams in schools
Setting up of Gender Inclusion Fund to provide equitable quality education to girls and transgender students.
Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups.
Teaching up to at least Grade 5 to be in mother tongue/ regional language
Assessment Reforms with 360 degree Holistic Progress Card, tracking student progress for achieving Learning Outcomes
Every Child will come out of School adept in at least one Skill
GER in higher education to be raised to 50 % by 2035 ; 35 million seats to be added in higher education
Higher Education curriculum to have flexibility of subjects
Multiple Entry / Exit to be allowed with appropriate certification
Academic Bank of Credits to be established to facilitate Transfer of Credits
National Research Foundation to be established to foster a strong research culture
Light but Tight Regulation of higher education, single regulator with four separate verticals for different functions
Increased use of technology with equity. A National Educational Technology Forum has been created
Curricular reforms to integrate 21st Century Skills, Mathematical Thinking and Scientific temper
Multilingualism to be promoted in both schools and higher education. Even complex subjects like Engineering are being offered in over 13 Indian languages
Wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems to be incorporated into mainstream
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF NEP 2020
I. A. SCHOOL EDUCATION
1. PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) – is a centrally sponsored scheme intended to prepare schools of excellence. All categories of schools i.e. Primary, Elementary, Secondary and Senior Secondary school will be selected under this initiative to be transformed as Exemplar Schools. The Scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of 5 years w.e.f. 2022-23 to 2026-27. A total of 6448 schools across 30 State/ UTs/ Institutions (i.e., Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas) will be covered in the first phase.
2. NIPUN Bharat: National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (NIPUN BHARAT) – The objective is to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy among children, that is the ability to read and understand simple text and do simple arithmetic by the end of class three. This competency is considered the foundation that is critical for any future learning or skilling.
3. Vidya Pravesh: NCERT has developed a 3 Months Play Based ‘School Preparation Module’ for grade I named ‘Vidya Pravesh’ The module is essentially around 12 weeks of developmentally appropriate instruction for the children entering of Grade I to bolster a child’s pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, cognitive and social skills. As on date, 33 States/UTs except Sikkim, Manipur and Kerala have implemented Vidya Pravesh from the year 2022-23. Under this, 1,80,13,930 students from 8,77,793 schools participated across States/UTs
4. National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF FS) launched on 20th October, 2022, is the first ever integrated Curriculum Framework for children between ages 3-8 in India. It is a direct outcome of the 5+3+3+4 ‘curricular and pedagogical’ structure that NEP 2020 has come out with for School Education. Following which, Jadui Pitara: Learning Teaching Material (Jadui Pitara) based on NCF FS was launched on 20th Feb, 2023. It is a play-based learning teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3 to 8 years.
5. PARAKH: (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) is an independent vertical under NCERT, set up on 8th February, 2023. It has developed the Holistic 360-degree progress card for the Foundational and Preparatory stage. At present the HPC at the Foundational and Preparatory stage is being finalized for implementing it from the year 2023-24.
6. NDEAR: The vision of NDEAR is to create a unifying national digital infrastructure to energise and catalyse the education ecosystem. NDEAR is a super connector to cross leverage school education ecosystem capabilities and catalyse innovation in skilling and education. NDEAR has witnessed 1500+ Micro courses, 5 billion+ Learning sessions, 12 billion+ QR codes, 20K+ ecosystem participants, 15K+ Micro improvements ongoing across the various linked building blocks.
7. PM e-VIDYA: A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA unifies digital/online/on-air education to enable coherent multi-mode access to education. It includes: DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) as One Nation One Digital Platform for Education which is a storehouse of over 3.17 lakh e-contents, 6,600 Energized Textbooks in 36 Languages (29 Indian languages and 7 Foreign Languages) with average daily page hits of 2.2+ crores and is amongst the 4 Digital Public Goods identified by Govt. of India, 12 Swayam Prabha TV Channels under the one class, one TV channel initiative with more than 7000 programs Radio/Community Radio broadcasting/Mobile Podcast with 4000+ pieces of curriculum based radio programs (Classes 1 -12) disseminated/ broadcasted on 398 Radio Stations (11 GyanVani FM Radio Stations, 255 Community Radio Stations and 132 All India Radio stations), Podcasts on iRadio and JioSaavn Mobile apps and 2900+ live programs have been broadcast on iRadio, and For Children with special needs, 4200+ Indian Sign language (ISL) based contents, Talking books (in Daisy format) and 3860+ Audio Books have been developed. All 10,000 ISL dictionary words have been uploaded on DIKSHA. Additionally, one DTH channel is being operated specifically for hearing impaired students in sign language.
8. Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP): 41 Central/State University/Institutions which include IITs, NITs, RIEs and Government Colleges will run this Programme from academic session 2023-24. The ITEP is a Dual Major Programme -the first major is in Education with School Stage specialization and the second major is in an opted discipline.
9. National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST): NPST is a statement of quality and defines competencies of teachers at different stages/levels and performance appraisal based on those competencies. The Guiding Document has been developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders, field level research and due deliberations.
10. National Mission for Mentoring (NMM): NMM focuses on Competency enhancement of school teachers through the professional support provided by mentors. “Bluebook on Mentoring” developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders, field level research and due deliberations. Thereafter, NMM was piloted in 30 central government schools across the country (15 KVs, 10 JNVs, and 5 CBSE). So far, 60 mentors have onboarded and the web portal is being made operational for conducting mentoring sessions.
11. Vidyanjali Portal : Supports a community/volunteer management program, through which the community/volunteers interact and connect directly with schools of their choice to share their knowledge and skills as well as contribute in the form of assets/material/equipment. At present, a total of 4,76,412 schools have onboarded while a total of 4,19,485 volunteers have registered, impacting 5561193 children.
12. New India Literacy Programme (नव भारत साक्षरता कार्यक्रम) ULLAS- Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society “जन – जन साक्षर”: A centrally sponsored scheme on Education for All (erstwhile known as Adult Education), “ New India Literacy Programme or ULLAS” targeting all non-literates age 15 years and above, has been approved by the Government of India with a financial outlay of Rs.1037.90 crore for implementation during FY 2022-23 to 2026-27, in alignment with NEP 2020. The scheme is being implemented through volunteerism.
I. B. HIGHER EDUCATION
Initiatives for Learner-Centric Education
1. National Credit Framework (NCrF) jointly developed by the Regulators of School, Skill and Higher Education released on 10.04.2023 provides framework for accumulation of credit from academics, skill programmes and relevant experience. Along with the provision of Multiple Entry and Exit and Academic Bank of Credit, this will allow seamless mobility of learners between various streams, making education truly multidisciplinary.
2. National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) released on 11.05.2023 is an instrument for development, classification and recognition of qualification from Level 4.5 to 8 (1st yr. UG to Doctoral programme). It defines learning outcomes at different levels.. It will facilitate national and international equivalence and comparability, inter/intra streams / institutional mobility, multiple learning pathways, lifelong learning, ensures confidence of Public in HE System.
3. Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programs – It incorporates a flexible choice-based credit system, multidisciplinary approach, and multiple entry and exit options. This will facilitate flexibility to move from one discipline of study to another, one institution to another, switch to alternative modes of learning (offline, ODL, & Online learning, and hybrid modes of learning), multiple entry and exit options with UG (certificate/diploma/degree) and to choose the courses of their interest in all disciplines. 105 Universities have adopted it as per the data reported to UGC.
4. Regulation on Academic Bank of Credit – ABC is a digital or virtual or online store-house of academic credit data base of Higher Education Institution . It will provide authenticated records of credits earned by students from Registered Higher Education Institutions. ABC will ensure the opening, closure and validation of Academic Bank Accounts, credit verification, accumulation, and transfer or redemption. As of now 1413 Universities/INIs/HEIs are onboarded with 1.10 crore ABC ID.
5. Guidelines for pursuing two Academic Programmes simultaneously -It will facilitate multiple pathways of learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes.
6. Minimum standards and procedures for award of Ph.D. degree regulations- These regulations are framed to encourage research scholars to become well-trained researchers and inquisitive explorers. Women candidates and persons with disability will be given extra time (additional 2 years) to finish their research. Candidates, who have scored above a CGPA of 7.5, can now apply for a PhD after completing a four-year Bachelor’s degree. HEIs may decide their own selection procedure for Ph.D. admission of international students. It also provides for discontinuance of M. Phil programme.
7. Promotion of Indian Languages in education AICTE has permitted 49 Engineering Courses across 12 States in 7 regional languages; MBBS Course has been started in Hindi ; Common University Entrance Test conducted in 13 Languages and participated by 242 Universities; JEE (Mains) and NEET (UG) conducted in 13 languages involving about more than 30 lakhs students ; text books are being translated into multiple Indian languages through an AI based App Anuvadini, developed by AICTE
II. DIGITAL LEARNING AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY
1. Open & Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulation, 2020 : These regulations lay down the criteria for allowing institutions to run ODL programmes. 95 HEIs (71 recognized and 24 Category-I HEIs) are recognized entitled to offer 1149 ODL programmes. 66 HEIs are recognized / entitled to offer 371 online programmes.
2. UGC (Credit Framework for Online Learning Courses through SWAYAM) Regulation Under this regulation percentage of courses of MOOCs from the SWAYAM platform towards credit transfer is enhanced from 20 % to 40%. It provides flexibility and opportunity for lifelong learning. It also enables Institutions HEIs to offer multi-disciplinary in their course. 288 Universities have adopted SWAYAM Courses for Credit Transfer. Around 86 lakhs learners are registered in the Jan 2022, July 2022 and Jan 2023 semester. More than 5 lakh students are taking exams and getting certified on SWAYAM in every year.
3. Technology enabled Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) based Solutions for Governance of HEIs starting from Admission to Grant of Degree – Smarter Automation Engine for Universities (SAMARTH) is an ICT initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Education to revolutionize the current education management system by implementing an automation engine for various universities and other Higher Education Institutes. It will facilitate HEIs in administration of HEIs and management of students from admission to grant of degree. At present 1249 Univ. & HEIs are onboarded and covering in 27 States and 4 UTs. 7 State Higher Education departments are also onboarded.
III. SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Following are the aspects focusing on skill development under NEP 2020:
•Integration of vocational education with general education
•Convergence and integration of skills across disciplines/sectors
•Technology-enabled learning
•Entrepreneurship and life skills
•Teacher training and professional development
•Experiential learning through internship and apprenticeship
•Continuous evaluation
•Fostering global competence in skill development
•Inclusive and sustainable skills
•Skilling in regional languages
•Furthermore, it lays the foundation for a Credit Framework, facilitating mobility between general and vocational education, creating a seamless educational journey for students.
•Ranking of all HEIs in the top 400 has improved in QS 2023
•Number of Indian Univ./HEI increased from 13 (2015) to 45 (2024) in QS Ranking
•Indian HEIs in top 500 increased to 11 in 2024 as compared to 7 in 2015 QS Ranking
•India has improved its position in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023, with 44 courses, in their respective subject categories, ranked among the Global top 100.
•11 declared Institutes of Eminence (IoEs) account for 44 % of the 355 Programmes / courses ranked in QS World University Ranking by Subject.
•Indian universities in QS 2023-24 subject rankings saw an 18.7% rise making India the 2nd most represented Asian country with 66 ranked universities.
•India showed improvement in both publications and number of citations (a measure of impact) –
•India is ranked 3rd globally in 2022, with 2,75,367 publications, as compared to 5th rank in 2016, with 157539 publications. (Source: Scimago Journal and Country Rank)
•In number of citations India ranked 4th out of 113 countries as compared to 11th rank out of 94 countries in 2016.
