New Education Policy 2020? What Has Changed? Know It All!

One widely accepted and much-needed reform initiated by the government is the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The policy is a ground-breaking step forward to standardize the education policy across the country with formalizing and defining the whole education system, curriculum, higher education, admission age and easy access to education for all, upto primary classes.

There has been a lot of confusion and mixed information circulating regarding the new policy, which has confused parents. Especially the ones about to start school for their little ones. 

NEP 2020 aims to amend and improve the quality of teaching and learning while empowering the young minds of our country to excel and compete globally.

Let's look over the fine prints and salient features of the National Education Policy 2020 set to synergize elements like quality, affordability, accessibility, responsibility, equity.

Significance to Language

The NEP 2020 puts all contemplation regarding the role of regional language in education to rest. The policy emphasizes the use of regional language in primary education until class 5. The idea is to enable all children to understand the basics of at least three languages (two of these being native to India). 

PinkNBlu Quest - Being multilingual or Learning more than 2 languages is linked to better cognitive development, sharp memory, problem-solving, critical thinking and multitasking skills.

Reforms School curriculum

The NEP 2020 looks to secure universal foundational Literacy and Numeracy for children in primary school i.e. by Grade 3 by 2025. 

The policy aims to replace yearly academic examinations with only three exams in classes 2, 5 and 8.

Board exams will be restructured to be conducted twice a year with upto two attempts per child. The whole examination pattern will be bifurcated into descriptive and objective modes.

The children will be able to choose an interdisciplinary curriculum like the overseas system. If a child wants to choose physics with bakery or mathematics with fashion studies they can do so. And the assessment of children will be done holistically, highlighting the skills and not just examination marks.

Coding will be introduced as early as class 6 to promote reflexive thinking.

PinkNBlu Quest - No ranking pattern helps the children to develop confidence, with a focus on intuitive learning rather than only focusing on scoring well. We offer the best online classes for your children (check - Coding classes)

Defining Age Structure

The 10+2 structure of the classes is remodelled into a 5+3+3+4 structure. Read below to understand the formulation

• 5 years - Children of age 3 to 8 years old will have a foundational stage. This stage shall include 3 years of pre-school or ‘Anganwadi’ and classes 1 and 2 of the primary section and will be compulsory with a focus on activity-based learning teaching methods.
• Next 3 years - From classes 3 to 5, covering children from age 8-11, it shall be about preparatory learning introducing basics of speaking, writing, mathematics with a primary focus on language development, classroom interaction, elements of discovery and basic numeracy.
• Next 3 years - From classes 6 to 8 covering children from age 11 to 14 shall be middle stage. Introduction to experiential learning in the sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences and humanities shall begin at this stage. The abstract learning of various subjects will be based on critical learning objectives.
• Next 4 years - From classes 9 to 12 including children of age, 14 to 18 shall be considered a secondary stage divided into 2 parts of class 9 and 10 & 11 and 12. This stage will offer a multidisciplinary learning curriculum where the children will have free will to choose subject combinations instead of following the age-old structure of science, commerce, and arts. This is a huge milestone to encourage critical thinking and thought leadership from a schooling age. 

PinkNBlu quest - Allowing the preschool years to be based on activity learning, developing skills, and identifying strengths help the children in overall development which augments life-long intellectual qualities.

Higher education norms

To increase the gross enrollment ratio GER in higher education to 50% BY 2035, the design of the undergraduate curriculum will be holistic, multidisciplinary, flexible with multiple entry and exit points. The Bachelor’s degree can be a 4-year program with the following options -

• 1-year certificate program
• 2-year program for diploma 
• 3-year program for Bachelor’s degree
• 4 year multidisciplinary Bachelor’s degree

MPhil has been discontinued.

Various agreements and regulatory bodies are being framed to internationalize education by allowing foreign universities to set their campuses in India, and letting institutions like IIT and IIM set campuses outside India.

Teaching Quality

NEP 2020 not only envisages improving the quality of education but also setting benchmarks for minimum qualifications for teachers. By 2030 a 4-year B.Ed. degree will be made compulsory. The regulatory authorities will be set to implement the rule with complete stringency.

Technology for Education

By integrating with hundreds of startups, the policy aims to bring technological advancement and design platforms that enhance learning, assessment, planning and administration. EdTech companies and startups will be guided to create infrastructure to ensure education reaches every place and situation wherever live education is not possible.

PinkNBlu Quest - Pink N Blu is already partners with India’s leading online learning platforms who have been game-changers in the online education sector, now affirmed by the NEP 2020.

The NEP 2020 is about to shift the base from learning the course towards the holistic development of children with skill and intellectual polishing.

The global education standards that were far from imagination are set to change the education sector in the country with the NEP 2020.