Meenu Sadhotra
India has a long tradition of holistic and multidisciplinary learning and has been renowned as a center of Educational excellence. Medicine, Mathematics and many subjects have progressed in India over a period of centuries. In ancient India, both formal and informal ways of education system existed. Education was largely imparted at home or in pathshalas. Temples were also the centres of learning and took interest in the promotion of knowledge. Teaching was largely oral and students remembered and thought upon what was taught in the class.
The Indian education system has gone through a number of transformations since the ancient times.The most significant transformation happened when the Britishers came to India.During the British administration, the independent or semi-independent princedoms and territories of India underwent tremendous changes. The purpose behind the British rulers educating the Indian populace was to build an educated group of laborers. Lord Macaulay laid the foundation of modern education system in the year 1835, purposed to educate Indians in terms of both culture and intellect.With the spread of imperialism and colonialism, foreign powers took an interest in India and thus introduced new means of transport and communication which further enhanced their educational goals in India.
Though the British rulers spread the light of education in India for the sake of their own interest, but the Indians were greatly benefited by this. British colonial rule brought with it the concept of a modern state, a modern economy and a modern education system. With the establishment of Colleges and Universities in various cities of India where Indian students started studying various modern subjects.The education system was first developed in the three presidencies (Bombay, Calcutta and Madras).
Education for all and industrial development was seen as crucial tools to unite a country divided on the basis of wealth, caste and religion, and formed the cornerstones of the anti-imperial struggle.Following Independence, school curricula were thus imbued with the twin themes of inclusiveness and national pride.Subsidized quality higher education through institutions such as the IITs and IIMs formed a major contribution to a self-reliant and modern Indian state, and they now rank amongst the best higher education institutions in the world.
The Kothari Commission was set up in 1964 to formulate a coherent education policy for India.According to the commission, education was intended to increase productivity, develop social and national unity, consolidate democracy, modernize the country and develop social, moral and spiritual values. To achieve this, the main pillar of Indian education policy was to be free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14.
Other features included the development of languages (Hindi, Sanskrit, regional languages and the three-language formula) equality of educational opportunities (regional, tribal and gender imbalances to be addressed) and the development and prioritization of scientific education and research. The commission also emphasized the need to eradicate illiteracy and provide adult education.
National Programme for Nutritional Support to Primary Education in 1995provided a cooked meal every day for children in Classes 1-5 of all government, government-aided and local body schools.District Primary Education Programme in 1993 focused on decentralized planning and management, improved teaching and learning materials, and school effectiveness.The movement to Educate All in 2000 aimed to achieve universal primary education by 2010 through microplanning and school-mapping exercises, bridging gender and social gaps.Fundamental Right in Article 21A, involved the provision of free and compulsory education, declared to be a basic right for children aged between 6 and 14 years.
The NEP 2020 replaces the National Policy on Education of 1986. In January 2015, a committee under former Cabinet Secretary T. S. R. Subramanian started the consultation process for the New Education Policy.The New Education Policy aims to facilitate an inclusive, participatory and holistic approach, which takes into consideration field experiences, empirical research, stakeholder feedback, as well as lessons learned from best practices.It is a progressive shift towards a more scientific approach to education.The prescribed structure will help to cater the ability of the child stages of cognitive development as well as social and physical awareness.
The education policy should maintain a symbiotic relationship between the different regions of the country through the study of different languages.The quality of education provided in the country shall be such that it not only delivers basic literacy and numeracy but also creates an analytical environment in the country.
The New Education Policy represents aspirations to become a knowledge powerhouse of the world inculcating the best of the global educational experiments. The Education policy is a step in the right direction given it is implemented throughout the long period, it targets.
The impetus of previous policies on education was largely on issues of access and equity. Implementation of the unfinished agenda of the National Policy on Education, revised in 1992,NPE 1986, was the objective. The final policy of 1986/92 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 which laid down the legal grounds for obtaining universal primary education has been in the cold storage for a long time.
The NEP 2020 is a pedestal to balance the growing domestic and international manpower needs of the Indian economy.The 1986 NPE aimed to provide traditional educational opportunities to different social groups and to include disadvantaged groups. NEP 2020 emphasizes the economic value created by education and training, greater emphasis on learning based on work, increased transmission of technical skills to middle school and high school students at different levels.
The previous policy focused on understanding the world and people’s lives. The current policy is quite focused on the development of the nation by creating citizens with knowledge, skills, and personal growth. In particular, the goal of education, defined in NEP 2020, is to promote the fullest human potential, to develop a fair and equitable society, and to promote the development of the nation, favours critical thinking, debate, and analysis studies with the aim of enriching the talent and human resources community of India. Third, the difference lies in understanding your learning goals.
This National Education Policy envisions an education ecosystem rooted in Indian ethics that contributes to the transformation of India by providing high-quality education to all, skill India, entrepreneurship, India to become world power, research orientation, startups and many more.
The Only Way is The Way Forward. NEP 2020 envisages a thorough inspection and regeneration of the higher education system to overcome these challenges and thereby provide high-quality higher education with equity and inclusion. The policy view includes the following major changes to the current system:
Step forward towards a higher education system consisting of larger, multi-disciplinary graduate education multilingual universities, and colleges in each district or at least one and also providing a medium of instruction or program in local languages.
The establishment of a National Research Foundation to identify outstanding peer-reviewed research and initiate seed research in universities and colleges. Governance of Board Education through a highly qualified independent board. Confer with academic and administrative autonomy.Identify fund raisers or sponsor for Scholarships to the deprived and underprivileged by universities; Cultivate a mind set for Online learning and open distance learning .
The main goal of this policy on higher education is to transform higher education institutions into larger external universities, colleges, to create vibrant communities of scholars and peers, break down harmful silos, turn students into artistic, creative, and analytical subjects as well as disciplines across disciplines including sports, cross-disciplinary research, by resource efficiency.
India urgently needs to bring back this great Indian tradition and it is already transforming other countries educationally and economically. To revive the ancient tradition of Indian universities on the lines of Takshila, Nalanda, Vallavi, and Vikramshila, where thousands of students from India and around the world studied in a vibrant multi-departmental environment.
Teachers dedication, performance, social mobility, experimental learning, innovative learning will be the prime and of course will be the epicentre for successful implementation.
With the introduction of the new NEP 2020, the Indian education system is expected to move closer to international standards. The time for the Vishwa Guru has arrived. NEP 2020 could be the next best thing that happened to India.
(The author is Presently, NEP CellMember, Higher Education Deptt., Civil Sectt. Jammu)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
