NEP Progress Roadmap: When will National Education Policy be Implemented in India?

We all know that education plays an important role in the overall development of a child, but to be precise; only the appropriate education model can benefit a child's growth and will build respect, sympathy, and empathy for fellow humans. India is a progressive nation working vigorously towards revamping the education model and has recently proposed the same in its National Education Policy.

This policy has been proposed to help students balance things out, grow together, and make decisions that interest everyone in a more digital learning setting. Since the policy was introduced, every student, teacher, parent, and institution has been looking out for it; and is living with an unanswered question- When will the National Education policy be implemented? Don't worry; we have answers to your every doubt and question.

This blog post will cover the NEP roadmap and the initiatives made by the government as changes are proposed in school education and higher education. The changes made to NEP from the previous educational policy emphasize quality, innovation, and research.

The government is prepared to provide significant funding to ensure the smooth implementation of this education policy. In the recent budget allocation, the Finance Minister of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman announced the recruitment of 38,800 tutors and support staff for 740 Ekalavya schools, which will benefit schooling for 3.5 lakh tribal children.

As a result, the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has completed the action plan and is moving forward with the necessary measures to start the recruitment process gradually. She also proposed that the National Research Foundation receive Rs. 50,000 crores in funding, and Ekalavya Schools will receive Rs. 40 crores.

Importance of NEP Implementation

The National Education Policy emphasizes developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills and promoting a love of learning and curiosity. This policy aims to make education accessible and inclusive for every child. To achieve this goal, the policy calls for improving early childhood care and education and establishing alternative education programs for children who may not have access to traditional schools.

The NEP also seeks to enhance educational quality by making it more meaningful and engaging for students. The policy suggests moving away from memorization in favor of a more comprehensive, student-centered teaching and learning strategy to achieve this goal. It utilizes inquiry-based and experiential teaching strategies and integrates local expertise and cultural norms into the curriculum development.

In achieving this, the policy encourages teachers to provide hands-on learning experiences and to prepare students with the necessary skills to analyze and think about the material they are studying desperately. For example, teachers can utilize experiments and simulations to help students understand difficult concepts instead of giving long lectures and reading textbooks. Instead, they can use virtual learning tools, gamification techniques, or even AR/VR for education in classroom learning.

Key Features of the National Education Policy

The National Education Policy of India has holistic features which can enhance student learning and teaching practices. Some of the features are listed below:

Flexible Curriculum

The NEP 2020 encourages curriculum flexibility and promotes a choice-based credit system that lets students choose the courses they want to study. This system gives students freedom and control over their educational journey and helps them focus on learning where their interest lies. It also creates an environment of exploration, experimentation, and innovation, improving overall learning outcomes.

For instance, the NEP allows students to select subjects outside the traditional STEM and arts domains and pursue vocational and life skills, providing them with a more holistic learning experience. This kind of freedom in the curriculum helps students to understand their interests and strengths and encourages them to think independently.

Early Childhood Education

The National Education Policy acknowledges the importance of early childhood education and aims to provide universal access to high-quality preschool education for all children. This policy is based on research showing that preschool children have better social and academic outcomes in the long term. They also have more potential to graduate from high school and attend college. Investing in early childhood education provides long-term benefits for the child's overall development.

Multilingualism

Another significant feature of the National Education Policy is to emphasize the role of mother tongue in education. It is based on the idea that language is a key factor in developing cultural identity and that everyone has the right to learn and use the language of their choice. Moreover, it acknowledges that young people must be able to communicate in multiple languages to taste the fruit of success in a global society.

Changes Proposed in School Education

• Revamping the 10+2 structure, the new FLN National Education Policy model will focus on 5+3+3+4 year K-12 learning.
• Instead of giving multiple exams in each class and semester, the exams will be conducted three times, first in class 2nd, then in 5th, and then in 8th.
• The design of the board examination in classes 10 and 12 will remain similar as it was previously.
• PARAKH, an assessment body, will set the standards of assessment and review performance assessment, review, and analysis of knowledge for holistic development.
• These tests would be given twice a year, with a chance for up to two attempts, to simplify them.
• The actual exam would be divided into objective and descriptive portions.
• To help students become more "inter-disciplinary" and "multilingual," this policy aims to lighten their course loads.
• As an illustration, it was expressed that "If a student wants to pursue digital marketing with physics, or if one wants to Yoga with chemistry, they are allowed to do so.
• In class 6, coding will be introduced, and ed-tech learning will be adopted.
• A breakfast component will be added to the midday meal program.
• With the help of social workers and counselors, students' health—particularly their mental health—will receive more attention.

Changes Proposed in Higher Education

It suggests a four-year undergraduate program conducting a multidisciplinary bachelor's degree with various exit choices. These will be implemented, covering professional and vocational fields as follows:

1. after completing one year, a certificate
2. after completing two years, a diploma
3. after completing a three-year program, gaining a bachelor's degree
4. a four-year Bachelor's degree in multiple disciplines (the preferred option)

• MPhil (Master of Philosophy) courses will no longer be offered to align degree programs with Western models.
• The proposal in the policy is to change how higher education institutions, like the IITs, approach learning diversity.
• In addition to the JEE Main and NEET, the National Testing Agency will now carry out entrance examinations for enrollment to universities nationwide.
• Indian education would become more global under the proposed policy.
• India is now competent to host campuses for foreign universities.
• The fees for both public and private universities will be fixed.

Read Also: 5 Core Elements of National Education Policy

Latest Updates on the NEP Progress- 2023

The G20 Education Working Group Meeting was recently held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. At the event, the Minister of Education and Skill Development stated that the National Education Policy of India has paved the way for combining schooling and skill mobility through the National Credit Framework (NCrF) and redefining India’s skill ecosystem.

The Minister requested the University Grants Commission (UGC), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to collaborate in developing a framework for mapping future skills.

"Under the National Education Policy 2020, the inclusion of vocational education in the school curriculum starting in grade six will help to create a future-ready workforce that will propel India to new heights," he continued.

Additionally, the Minister of State (MoS) for Education, declared that the NEP 2020 is the cornerstone for strengthening institutional capacity to incorporate lifelong learning into the framework for skills and education.

According to the MoS, the Government of India is rethinking how to develop, assess, and recognize skills, mainly through integrating Academic and Vocational Training and Education to reduce structural barriers to transitioning between two related assessment models, curriculum, certification, governance, etc.

When will the National Education policy be implemented?

Here is the state-wise NEP implementation progress update:

• Uttarakhand has become the nation's first state to commence enforcing the Centre's New Education Policy by launching the 'Bal Vatikas' (4457 Anganwadi Kendras). The CM of the state, stated that "the NEP will lay the foundation of a bright future for students." He, who also laid the foundation stone of an NCERT building in Dehradun, said, "No project will be left hanging, and we will ensure that every project sees the dawn of day," he said.
• Karnataka accepts and implements the National Education Policy model and has repeatedly tried to settle difficulties within the new framework. From the academic year 2023-24, the policy has been implemented. The government has noted that some schools have adopted the policy on a trial basis and not officially.
• Maharashtra has formed a panel to restructure school education; the inter-departmental committee for implementing the NEP will draw up the roadmap for covering the existing 10+2 structure into a 5+3+3+4 model and ensuring other standards are executed momentarily.
• Uttar Pradesh's CM is concerned regarding the state's education quality. He wishes that quality education must be accessible to all. He believes the country will develop when it focuses on developing students' character and investing a sense of nationalism in them right from basic education.The education advisor to the state chief minister, stated that the education system in Uttar Pradesh would be streamlined following the National Education Policy 2020 and strongly emphasizes providing students with a job-oriented holistic education.

Other Indian states are also fully equipped to transform their education framework per the new policy.

To Sum Up

In India, there is a system of open learning and distance education. The government has emphasized the value of open and distance learning as it is thought to be instrumental in raising the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). The government has established measures to enhance the open and distance learning infrastructure, such as blended online courses, digital repositories, funding for research, bettering student services, maintaining quality education standards, and more. To know more about how we can help you with NEP content development, reach out to us.