INTRODUCTION
The Union Government of India approved the National Education Policy 2020 on July 29, 2020. The first National Education Policy came into force in 1968. It was replaced by the National Education Policy 1986, which was modified in 1992. The 1992 policy was in force till 2020, and we now have the current National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of this policy and the stages by which the policy projects to achieve the goal seems impressive at the outset. The stated aim of this New Education Policy is:
“India to have an education system by 2040 that is second to none, with equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners regardless of social or economic background and thus to universalise education and make India a Global knowledge Superpower.”
On the face of it, any Indian would be proud of this aim.
STRUCTURE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
The process to achieve the high aim and objective set for this policy also looks impressive, for it replaces the existing school education structure of 10+2 with 5+3+3+4. In this structure the first 5-year stage, which is called Foundational Stage, is a welcome one because it aims at concentrating on children from the age of three—the right to have education begins from the age of three. The pedagogy that is proposed for this stage will definitely enable the children to learn to write, read and understand basic numbers by the time they reach grade 2, which would be the basic strength for children to go to the Second Level of Preparatory stage from 3 to 5, where the children learn languages and basic mathematics. If these two stages are really implemented in its letter and spirit, the children will certainly be equipped with the strength to continue their studies in stage three from the 6th grade to the 8th grade and will be in a position to face the fourth stage from grade 9 to 12, where students would be free to choose the subjects they like and be in a position to learn vocational skills as well.
K. John Don Bosco
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