A Policy with Many a Right Intention

Context: The NEP has several innovative ideas but still there are multiple concerns that need to be implemented for improving quality in education.

Positive aspects of New Education Policy 2020:

• Education as a public good: The recognition of education as a public good has important implications for public policy in planning, providing, and financing education. 
• Holistic education: Emphasises on each student’s holistic development in both academic and non-academic spheres including extra-curricular activities and research.
• 5+3+3+4 system: In school education, it incorporates early childhood care and education. 

• Universal education that includes the secondary level.
• Breakfast in the school meal programme.
• Introduction of vocational education at the upper primary level. 

• Emphasis on the liberal arts, humanities, and Indian heritage and languages.
• Facilitating the selective entry of high-quality foreign universities.
• Providing higher education free to about 50% of the students with scholarships and fee waivers. 
• Increasing the gross enrolment ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035. 
• Emphasis on reforms: Multidisciplinary system offering choices to students from among a variety of subjects from different disciplines. 

• Integrated (undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels) education.
• One regulatory body for the entire sector in the Higher Education Commission of India. 
• Establishment of a model Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research University in every district.
• National Assessment Centre to make assessment and evaluation more holistic in school education.

• Mother tongue/regional language: as a medium of instruction until at least Grade 5.
• Three language formula: It also says the three-language formula will be implemented to promote national integration. 

Issues related to New Education Policy 2020:

• No closing of commercially oriented private institutions: The 2020 policy only promises closure of substandard teacher education institutions. 
• Issues with light but tight regulation: Light but tight regulatory approach mandates full public self-disclosure of finances of private institutions. 

• But policymakers and administrators have been struggling to implement reforms for many years. 

• For Example:

• Differentiating the benevolent private sector from undesirable but powerful market forces in the education sector is a challenge. 
• Regulating the entry and growth of the market-driven private sector.

• Implementation challenges: Reforms like revamping the University Grants Commission and abolishing the affiliating system 
• Low funding: The 2020 policy simply reaffirms the commitment to the allocation of 6% of GDP.

• However, the draft policy promised to double public expenditure on education to 20% of the total government expenditure, from 10%.

• No mention of State School Education Regulatory Authorities in the 2020 policy. 
• No promise of full recruitment of teachers at all levels, despite the policy promises robust recruitment mechanisms.

Conclusion: The New Education Policy needs to address the above concerns to make it more relevant to the present needs.