18 Sep 2020  |   04:49am IST

Pulse of New Education Policy

Pulse of New Education Policy

Molly Fernandes

Proverbs 16:16 says “that having wisdom and understanding is better than having silver or gold…but there are very few things in life that can never be taken away…an education is one of those things”.

Regarding the New Education Policy (NEP), a little was made known that there would be changes in the education system. The chief minister did not appraise the public on its pros and cons and for that matter, I would say, was the draft available in the mother tongue for the people to understand and besides being sent to the heads of institutions?

The New Education Policy expands the age group 6-14 years of mandatory schooling to 3-18 years of schooling. The NEP introduces hitherto uncovered three years of pre-schooling, age group of 3-6 years under the school curriculum. The new system will have 12 years of schooling with three years of Anganwadi/ pre-schooling. The NEP aims to reduce the curriculum content to its core essentials, focussing on key concepts and ideas in order that children are able to practice more critical thinking and among other things, more analysis-based learning. Among the major reforms, the 10+2 structure in the schooling system has been replaced by a 5+3+3+4 structure.

The new education policy bounds any hope the underprivileged and the socially disadvantaged people have of improving their precarious lot in life through education. While the draft spoke of extending the Right to Education Act up to Class XII, the policy cleverly misguides readers into assuming it does. 

A teacher in the Patna college writes, I ask all the governments across 73 years of Independence — why is education such a joke in our country? Before declaring policies, I wish experienced and knowledgeable linguists and educationists had been consulted. He continues, The MHRD, released its draft of the national education policy which aims to develop a system of education which is for all. But this draft policy has nothing for students with special challenges. A lot of issues with regard to persons with special challenges are in fact left unheard and unaddressed in the national education policy. The move of the government on emphasizing upon a universal sign language for people who are hard of hearing is to be appreciated — but it doesn't talk anywhere about the training aspect of the teachers who would be teaching in public and private institutions to students with challenges. 

The policy emphasises mother tongue/local/ regional language as the medium of instruction at least till Class V, but preferably till Class VIII. Sanskrit is proposed to be offered at all levels of school and higher education as an option, including in the three-language formula. The use of mother tongue/local language as a medium of instruction is matter of great concern. Villages Government school strength is also being kept in the dark!

There is no road map in this policy regarding the eradication of discriminations and social evils or promotion of constitutional values and democratic ideals, national integration and peace, and solidarity.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar