National Education Policy 2020: 25 Important Reforms In School & Higher Education

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, making transformational reforms in both school and higher education sectors.

It is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. In this era of knowledge, where learning, research and innovation are important, the NEP will transform India into a vibrant knowledge hub, said Modi.

• Universal access from pre-primary school to Grade 12: Target to achieve 100 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio in school education by 2030
• Early Childhood Care Education: Education for all children between 3-6 years by 2025
• Replacing 10+2 with 5+3+3+4: After five years in pre-primary, students to aim at enhanced skills in new pedagogical system
• National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Focus on early language and mathematical skills from Grades 1-3 by 2025
• Multilingualism and the power of language: Medium of instruction till Class 5, preferably till 8, to be home language or mother tongue
• Reforms in exams: Board exams to be broken into two, to test core capabilities
• New National Assessment Centre PARAKH: A standard-setting body for assessment of students pan-India
• Equitable and inclusive education: Emphasis on socially disadvantaged, girls, socio-cultural identity children for education
• Teacher recruitment and career path: National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) to be developed by 2022 for teachers
• Standard-setting and Accreditation for School Education: State School Standards Authority to be set up in all States or UTs
• Vocational Education: By 2025, at least 50 per cent of students to have exposure to vocational education

• Increase GER in higher education: Aim to reach at least 50 per cent by 2035 from 26.3 per cent in 2018
• Holistic Multidisciplinary Education: Multi-disciplinary holistic education at UG level in all fields
• Restructuring of UG and PG degrees: UG degree to be of either 3 or 4 years, with certifications after each year
• Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs): To be set up in or near each district for promoting research in all fields
• Rationalised Institutional Architecture: HEl clusters or Knowledge Hubs to be set up with each have 3,000+ students
• National Research Foundation (NRF): To create a culture of research that permeates through all universities
• Financial support for students: Students from underprivileged classes to be incentivised per merit
• Open and distance learning to be expanded: To play a major role in increasing Gross Enrolment Ratio to 50 per cent
• Motivated, Energised, and Capable Faculty: Clearly defined, independent & transparent process for hiring the right faculty
• Effective Governance and leadership in HEls: Graded accreditation and graded autonomy to achieve excellence in 15 years
• Regulatory body: Higher Education body Commission of India to be the single umbrella for higher education
• Teacher Education: A new, comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education to be formulated
• Technology in Education: National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) to be formed to promote use of technology
• Adult Education: Aim to achieve 100 per cent youth and adult literacy by 2030
• Promotion of Indian languages: HEls to promote higher education in mother tongue or local languages
• Investing in the future: Education sector to reach 6 per cent of GDP at the earliest

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