Teachers, scholars across India laud National Education Policy 2020

New Delhi: Educators across the country have lauded the National Education Policy (NEP) approved by the Union Cabinet for introducing many reformations in the Indian education system after 34 years. Starting with the renaming of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development as the Ministry of Education, the new policy approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday envisions to offer a new structure to the education system in the country.

The NEP 2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st-century education, while remaining consistent with India's traditions and value systems, the educators said. "This policy was long due and brings about the transformation to learn and turn the future Indian minds," Niranjan Hiranandani, Provost, HSNC University Mumbai, said in a statement.

"The NEP will offer multiple exit points in studies, which means that one could actually get into employment at different ages, different times, and different levels of education which is a thoughtful strategic structure," Hiranandani said. Earlier in June, three reputed colleges in Mumbai -- K. C. College, H. R. College, and Bombay Teachers' Training College (BTTC) came together to form Maharashtra's second cluster University; named as "HSNC University".

The university aims at ushering in a new wave of education and offers interdisciplinary, liberal, choice-based credit system and talent-oriented education approach and advocates for an industry-focused, technology, and skill development-driven curriculum that will make undergraduate and postgraduate students employment-ready. "I am pleased to see the National Education Policy 2020 is in sync with the vision of our university and look forward to it," Hiranandani added.

With the New Education Policy 2020 focusing on boosting and integrating technology into the education sector, several educators and academicians are lauding the effort being made. Speaking on this integration, Atul Kulshrestha, Chairperson, FICCI Edtech Task Force, and Chairman and MD, Extramarks, said that the New Education Policy strives to completely transform the school education sector by aiming to provide high-quality education to all.

Kulshrestha lauded the new policy for aiming to integrate technology, implementing a new assessment methodology and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track student performance to optimise their career. Another very important development as a part of the NEP 2020 is the directive to teach students till the 5th grade in the mother tongue of the state or local language whenever possible.

"This is a welcome development. It is important to understand that deep and profound learning happens in the language a child is comfortable with," said Vinod Malhotra, Chairman, Academic council, Saamarthya Teachers Training Academy of Research, Ghaziabad.

Vishnu Karthik, CEO, Xperiential Learning Systems and Director, The Heritage Schools said: "We first have to distinguish between language and literacy. Language is speaking and is natural for our brains. Literacy is reading and writing which is to be learned by our brains."