NEP 2020: A policy that overhauls the education ecosystem

The policy attempts to create opportunities for the Indian education system, by proposing seismic changes, opening doors for an innovative and result driven approach, writes Nandita Abraham

The new National Education Policy (NEP), approved by the Union Cabinet sets the goal of transforming the education system in the next 20 years. The best aspect of this new policy is that it seeks to address the entire gamut of education. The policy is based on the pillars of 'access, equity, quality, affordability, accountability' and will transform this landscape in the country to meet the demands of the 21st century. It is the first policy that seeks to free the students from the despotism of the system and aims to promote multiple-choice and multidisciplinary learning.

One of the most significant shifts is the 'siloed' curriculum which is no longer relevant in today's time. This will encourage students to think beyond the traditional boundaries and help them excel in a laterally integrated world.

The new policy allows students, right from their childhood, to pursue the aspects of creative education and its applications to hone their skills and interests. This new structure will enable their ability to turn new imaginative ideas into reality. Education is for tomorrow, and through the implementation of NEP, the advantages of creative education will become main stream and have a broader impact on the youth.

With the introduction of this policy, a complete transformation of the Indian education system is expected. This will ensure a significant push to build on skills such as design and creativity throughout the learning curve of the students with continuous disruptions. The policy relies on partners like educators and educational institutes, who can enhance the diversity of cultural expressions, contribute to developing and foster creativity to make education more holistic, useful, and fulfilling to the learner.

This change in policy will lead to a complete overhaul of and re-energise the framework of the higher education system. It brings everything that we have been talking about as creative educators to the table.

Though the policy is highly inclusive and caters to all the facets of education, like any major change, implementation of these wide-sweeping changes are bound to pose challenges as well. Three areas that need particular attention are:

Optimum utilisation of human resource: Importance of focusing on existing faculty and leadership to help them hone their skills and make them comfortable teaching, using the new methods and help them get acclimatized to the new way of learning.

Technology and systems - Relying only on video communication platforms is no longer enough in a system that has to be inherently hybrid and flexible. There is a need to include non-classroom data-driven systems here .

Access - To focus on how to make sure that young people all over India fully benefit from the opportunities that the NEP offers and have access to these new ways of learning

Overall, this policy attempts to create opportunities for the Indian education system, by proposing seismic changes, opening doors for an innovative and result driven approach. I believe an effective, practical approach and a robust implementation of this policy, is the need of the hour to spearhead progress and elevate Indian education into a global conversation.

(The author is president, Pearl Academy)