New Education Policy

 NEW EDUCATION POLICY

(Written by: Vani Gupta)

In the today’s world education is not just a means of gaining knowledge but has multiple dimensions to it. Education is seen as a pathway to get a good job, or to have a successful career, and although wishing for a brighter future is not wrong, studying just for the sake of eventually obtaining a job is flawed on many levels. Nowadays, especially in India, students aim at getting into a good college, not because they’re passionate about that particular field but because that college can help them provide a desired job which offers them a great package. Colleges these days advertise on the placements they have to offer and the heavy packages those companies proffer. It seems as if students are passionate about money more than about the knowledge they’re gaining.

The New Education Policy 2020 will certainly act as a milestone in India’s history. The NEP aims at bringing out the true essence of education, which has been lost with time. It is comprehensive, holistic and far sighted and will certainly play a great role in the growth and development of our nation. One of the towering goals of NEP is to bring two crore out-of school students into the school system and reduce the number of dropouts. Other than this, reduction in the syllabus and increased focus on vocational courses will encourage the students to opt for courses they actually like over the courses which would eventually lead to good money but minimal knowledge. The policy will hopefully act as a stimulant as it focuses at converging the science and art streams, which can also be viewed as an effort to reduce the taboos related to each of them. The focus on environmental and constitutional values will go a long way in creating an enlightened population well versed about our country and world’s situation and standing.

India is a large and diverse country with a cornucopia of languages, dialects and mother tongues. Even though English is considered somewhat a universal language for communication, conversing in one’s mother tongue has a certain pride associated with it. One of the highlights of the NEP is the option of obtaining education in one’s own mother tongue. The policy states clearly and unequivocally that there would be no imposition or opposition to any language.

The New Education Policy was long overdue and now the focus shifts to it’s smooth and proper implementation. I hope that it’s aims to increase the investment from 4.3% to 6% of GDP is achieved soon and has a proper time frame for its implementation. However, an unsaid fear still prevails in minds of many people that this policy like many others might be left as just a written document and no actual change occurs. Only time will tell whether it’ll be a success or not.