New Education Policy 2021 – Key Highlights at
a Glance
“There is no doubt that creativity or innovation is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would forever repeat the same patterns.” – Edward De Bono.
The Union Cabinet of India approved the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) on 29 July 2020. It aims to replace India’s 10+2 education system with a new 5+3+3+4 one. The vision of the NEP 2020 policy is to equip the students of India with 21st-century skills and knowledge and offer a high-quality education to all.
According to New Education Policy 2021, academic excellence alone doesn’t promise success. Moral, physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions should be taken well into consideration by institutions for holistic development.
The main pillars of the New Education Policy 2021 are Research, Quality, and Innovation, helping to improve the education system. In addition, it focuses on increasing access to higher education and making it more affordable. Listed below are some of the essential points which NEP puts several proposes to help:
• Strengthening teacher education
• Improving assessment and evaluation procedures
• Focusing on primary three languages in schools
• Promoting the learning of Indian classical languages
• Increasing the use of technology and tool in education
• Encouraging the use of vernacular languages
• Introducing a new grading structure that does not use marks
• Establishing a new National Education Commission or NEC to check the implementation of the NEP
• Implementing a standardised course of study across all schools in India
• Making education free and compulsory for all kids aged between 6-14
• Removing the 34 years old National Policy on Education with National Education Policy 2020
What Does the New Education Policy 2021 State?
The revised policy aims to make learning more holistic, inquiry-driven, experiential, discoveryoriented, discussion-based, integrated, and enjoyable. The course structure should include essential arts, humanities, sports and fitness, culture and values, languages, and games. Also, mathematics and science should be taught to make education better-rounded and fulfilling and develop all aspects and capabilities of students.
Highlights of 10th Class and 12th Class Board Exams in NEP 2020
Listed below are some of the essential highlights for the board exams students:
• The exams will be redesigned to examine core competencies rather than memorising facts.
• Learners will be permitted to take the exams two times.
• Descriptive and objective-type questions may have different exams.
• The exam will be redesigned to be easier for learners.
• The exam will be modular or semester-wise.
The New 5+3+3+4 Educational Structure
In the New Education Policy 2021, the schooling structure is divided into four stages. Listed below points for NEP 2020 stages are divided age-wise, which will help you understand the points more easily:
5 Years of Foundational Stage
• For ages: 3 to 8
• For classes: Anganwadib or preschool, class 1 and class 2
• After retiring the old policy, the foundation stage will concentrate on developing language skills and play-based or activity-based education methods.
3 Years of Preparatory Stage
• For ages: 8 to 11
• For classes: class 3 to class 5
• The preparatory stage’s main focus will remain on numeracy abilities and language development. Activity and play-based learning and teaching methods will be used in this stage, including classroom interactions and the elements of discovery.
3 Years of Middle Stage
• For ages: 11 to 14
• For classes: class 6 to class 8
• The middle stage will involve experiential learning in mathematics, sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences.
4 Years of Secondary Stage
• For ages: 14 to 18
• For classes: class 9 to class 12
• The secondary phase will cover two phases: the first is Classes 9 and 10, and the second is a class 11 and 12. Concepts will be covered in in-depth knowledge in this stage. Also, students can select their favourite stream in which they want to study in 11 and 12th classes.
As a result, the change in the NEP policy from the 10+2 education structure to the 5+3+3+4 structure provides ample opportunities for students’ growth and highlights the areas the institutions should focus on to grow.