NEP 2020

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) is an ambitious policy document aiming to improve educational outcomes in the country for all children. The salient points of this policy in the context of school education are:

1. 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 stage design: Schooling has been divided into four stages based on the styles of learning best suited for those age groups – Foundational stage for the age group 3 – 8, Preparatory stage for the age group 8 – 11, Middle stage for the age group 11 – 14 and Secondary stage for the age group 14 – 18.
2. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): The policy has laid significant emphasis on ECCE. It is now well recognized that early educational intervention, along with nutrition, is foundational for future positive outcomes. A holistic curriculum has been developed keeping in consideration all the relevant developmental domains of early childhood.
3. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: The policy gives the highest priority to achieving universal Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. The abilities to read and write, and perform basic operations with numbers, are seen as a necessary foundation and indispensable prerequisite for all future schooling and lifelong learning.
4. Curricular Aims: Emphasis on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning and development of capacities and values such as critical thinking, decision making, creativity and ethical human and constitutional values.
5. Multidisciplinary, Holistic and Integrated Education: Focus on this across the areas like Sciences, Social Sciences, Art, Humanities and Sports for a multidisciplinary world in order to ensure the integration of all knowledge.
6. Reduced Curriculum Content: The policy makes clear recommendations to reduce the content load in each subject to its core essentials and thereby make space for critical thinking and holistic learning.
7. Flexibility and Choice in the Secondary Stage: The policy recommends increased flexibility and choice of subjects of study, particularly in secondary school, including subjects in Physical Education, Art and Craft and Vocational skills so that students can design their own paths of study and life plans.
8. Integrating Vocational Education: The policy aims to overcome the social status hierarchy associated with vocational education and requires integration of Vocational Education programs into mainstream education.
9. Multilingualism: Given the multilingualism of India and the cognitive benefits of knowing multiple languages, the policy gives a strong emphasis on learning multiple languages, particularly, the languages native to India.
10. Rootedness in India: The vision of the policy is to instill among the learners a deep rooted pride in being Indian, not only in thought, but in spirit, intellect and deeds as well as to develop knowledge, skills, values and dispositions that support responsible commitment to human rights, sustainable development and living, and global well-being, thereby reflecting a truly global citizen.