Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare addressed the media briefing.
"The cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval to new education policy for the 21st century. It is important, as for 34 years there were no changes in the education policy,": Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said in the briefing session.
As reports revealed earlier in the day, the Ministery of Ministry of Human Resource and Development, MHRD has been renamed as the Ministry of Education.
Among major announcements, Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare stated that currently "we have different norms for deemed universities, central universities, for different individual standalone institutions. New Education Policy says that for reasons of quality, norms will be the same for all & not as per the ownership".
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The new pedagogical framework of 5+3+3+4 will replace the 10+2 system. There will be exams in Class 3, 5, and 8 besides the board exams in Class 10 and 12.
The Board Exams will focus on testing actual knowledge instead of crammed learning and will be low stakes. Besides this, mother tongue/regional language can be a medium of instruction till 5th grade at least, can go beyond that if required.
"Policy emphasises mother tongue or local/regional language as a medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 & beyond. Sanskrit to be offered at all school levels & higher education as an option, including in the 3-language formula,": Cabinet on new education policy.
It further added, "Report cards will be a comprehensive report on skills and capabilities instead of just marks and statements."
Several reforms that the government aims to bring about were also revealed.
These include National mission to focus on basic literacy and basic numeracy; Significant changes in the pedagogical structure of curriculum with no rigid separation between streams like Arts and Science, all separations between vocational and academic, curricular and extra-curricular to be diluted.
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The Policy will also emphasize on "21st Century Skills" such as mathematical thinking and scientific temperament besides reduction in the curriculum to core concepts.
Cabinet has also approved reforms in higher education that include a target of 50% gross enrollment ratio by 2035 and provision for multiple entry/exit.
The education institutions will work on Credit transfer and an academic bank of credits for students during higher education.
The government also plans to use technology in reaching disadvantaged groups by increasing access, set up virtual labs and make e-content in regional languages with "Divyang friendly education software".
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