It has been long recognized that education is the most important instrument to enable holistic development. It also has the potential to solve many of our social problems through learning and development. An education system that promotes vocational training, skills development, and research foster the development of different industries, which are critical to leapfrog the economic development of the nation.

The Indian Government on 29th July 2020 approved the new National Education Policy (NEP) to introduce several landmark changes in the Indian education system from primary schooling to Higher Education level.

“NEP 2020 aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education, including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035. At least 3.5 crore new seats will be added to higher education institutions,” Sh. Amit Khare, Union Higher Education Secretary, said.

The world is currently in the midst of a technological revolution. Information technology industries have become a key driver for economic growth and international competitiveness. The Anglo-Saxon educational systems restricted teaching to the uniform subject matter. But with the adoption of NEP 2020, schools can now choose from a variety of subjects the focus can be on learning practical skills that help students, such as learning how to code, using the latest educational tools, and innovation and entrepreneurship to name a few.

For an education system to produce trained youths who benefit from holistic development, engage in disruptive thinking, and participate in lifelong learning, it is crucial to recognize that knowledge can be organized differently to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world to meet.

Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi said the NEP was “long due” and a much-awaited reform in the education sector, which would transform millions of lives in the times to come. He also said in the era of knowledge where learning, research, and innovation are important, the new policy would transform India into a vibrant knowledge hub. He said the NEP is based on the pillars “access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability.

It is expected that with the adoption of the NEP-2020, there will be holistic and multidisciplinary education in terms of flexibility of subjects, along with graded academic, administrative, and financial autonomy of institutions. The students now, above and beyond their set curriculums, will also be able to learn the value of discipline, leadership, and commitment, and these lessons likely follow with them throughout their life, including their higher education and career choices. Significant changes have been announced in the pedagogical structure of curriculum with no rigid separation between streams; all separations between vocational and academic and curricular and extra-curricular will also be removed.

With these revolutionary changes, India will surely become the place where young students will feel secure and confident to seek and create opportunities, supported by the education system which nurtures and promotes innovation and entrepreneurship, taking advantage of opportunities in the rapidly changing world.

(Naman Agrawal is Senior Associate (Science and Technology) in NITI Aayog)

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