It was on the 29th of July, 2020 that the Union Cabinet of India approved the New Education Policy for Schooling and Higher Education (NEP). This new policy aims to replace the old education policy which has been in effect for 34 years since its genesis in 1986, and is said to be based on the four pillars of Assessment, Equity, Quality, and Accountability.
It intends to replace the prior 10+2 system of schooling with a 5+3+3+4 structure. The Government aims to make education more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary through this policy. However, as all things do, this New Education Policy also possesses some major advantages and disadvantages when compared to the old system.
ADVANTAGES:
1. Flexible Learning Opportunities:
Over the course of 9th and 10th Grade, students are required to study 16 courses categorised under 8 curricular areas.The old system prevents students in 12th Grade from appearing in beyond 6 subjects for Board Examinations, and hence reduces the scope for multidisciplinary education. A student who has opted for a combination of PCM, cannot simultaneously study History or Political Science. However, there is no such “hard separation” between Arts, Humanities, and Sciences under the NEP.
2. Exposure to Ancient Culture:
The NEP seeks to instil a sense of deep rootedness and pride in students toward India’s rich and diverse ancient and modern culture, while also educating them about the knowledge systems and traditions. The Government has also stated that the rich heritage of ancient Indian knowledge has been a guiding light in the creation of the policy.
3. Making Schooling more Accessible:
The NEP states that students will be able to study in their native languages or any regional language up until the 8th Grade. All learning material is to be translated, and students are expected to easily comprehend the teaching as a result.
4. Digital Methods of Teaching:
With major advancements being made in education related technology as of the past few years, the Government intends to establish a New Education Technology Forum (NETF), which will work to elevate digital methods of teaching by providing new and unique ideas. There will also be an integration of technology that may enhance various procedures in classrooms.
5. Creativity and Logical Thinking:
The NEP will enhance creativity and logical thinking through an emphasis on critical thinking, experiential thinking, interdisciplinary approaches, competency based assessments, integration of arts and other vocational subjects, all with a reduced academic curriculum.
DISADVANTAGES:
1. Language Barriers:
Diversifying study material into regional languages acts as a double edged sword. In going through with this, it will be difficult to find competent translators and educators, especially for lesser spoken languages. Promotion of this approach may increase the already wide gap between the English and non English speaking sections of Indian society.
2. Technological Barriers:
The inclusion of more technology in learning environments may also be considered as a double edged sword. On one hand, it may enhance the learning experience for students in urban areas, but on the other hand, it will put students and educators in rural areas at a disadvantage due to a lack of experience with the technology. This disadvantage may become even more apparent in competitive examinations.
3. Resistance:
It is possible that the NEP will be met with resistance by students and educators who are used to traditional methods of education, especially in rural areas.
4. Course Duration:
Traditional procedures such as student graduation have now become a 4 year course. However, students are able to easily complete their diploma degree in 2 years, which may cause them to leave their former course midway.
5. Future Learning Opportunities Affected:
The focus on Indian regional languages only exists up until the 8th Grade, after which higher education will only be available in specific languages. The transition to high school may prove to be a challenge for many students educated in regional languages. Also, an emphasis on such languages and Indian culture may reduce the number of students that take up international languages such as German, French, and English at a fluent level. Further, while the NEP encourages foreign colleges and universities to open in India, it does not account for the fact that students will require fluency in English and other international languages to attend these. This can potentially compromise future education at a high level.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the New Education Policy comes with more merits than demerits, and even these demerits can be addressed in the long term. The NEP of 2023 will not only be beneficial to students, but the entire education sector. It will foster a healthy, logical, open, and creative mindset for future generations. It will prepare students by making them industry ready and able to pursue technical professions, in turn improving quality of life and in a way, ensuring the prosperity of the country.