The Centre had announced the new NEP on July 29, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters here, Singh said due to the lockdown, academicians got a lot of time to discuss the new policy.
“The timing of the new NEP’s announcement was good. However, the pandemic has affected its implementation. If the situation had been normal, then it would have been implemented at a faster pace,” Singh said.
The Centre has been interacting with the state governments and vice-chancellors of universities, and efforts are on to constitute regulatory mechanisms at different levels in this regard, the UGC chairman said.
Some of the activities related to the NEP have already commenced from the current academic year, Singh said, adding that arrangements are being made to ensure that the policy gets implemented in the entire country from the July 2022 academic session.
Earlier, Singh has delivered a lecture on the topic “Changing face of education in Independent India in context with the new education policy”, organised jointly by the English daily “Free Press” and Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidayalaya (DAVV).
The NEP will not only connect students with their cultural roots, but will also inspire them to become the world's best citizens, Singh said. The NEP is a unique amalgamation of the ancient cultural values and the modern knowledge and science, he added.
As per the NEP, the 10+2 system will be divided into 5+3+3+4 format. The NEP changes the school education system to 5+3+3+4 format.
Moreover, as per he New Education Policy of the Ministry, MPhil courses are likely to be discontinued.
MPhil courses to be discontinued under new National Education Policy approved by Union Cabinet
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2020
Schools will not have any rigid formation of streams of arts, commerce, science, students can take up whichever courses they want.
The Education Policy has been modified after 34 years. The NEP was last set-up in 1968 and updated in 1992. It has been followed since then. The NEP 2020 will be available in 22 languages and audio books.
Some of other features of the New Education Policy include graded academic, administrative and financial autonomy of institutions and single regulator for all higher education working under a self-disclosure based transparent system for approvals in place of numerous 'inspections'.
Meanwhile, e-courses will be developed in regional languages. The Ministry said that virtual labs will be developed and a National Educational Technology Forum(NETF) is being created.
Focusing on basic literacy and basic numeracy, the Ministry will go for major changes in the pedagogical structure of curriculum with no rigid separation between streams and all separations between vocational and academic, curricular and extra-curricular will be removed, according to the New Education Policy.
The NEP also focus on testing actual knowledge instead of rote learning. Mother tongue to be the medium of instruction till 5th grade and the report cards will be a comprehensive report on skills and capabilities instead of just marks and statements.
Meanwhile, public investment in the education sector is expected to reach 6% of GFP at the earliest - currently it is around 4.43%.
What will be the big changes in higher education, what will be the type of board examinations, what will be the nature of primary classes, what will be the changes in engineering and medicine streams -- to get the answer we spoke to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
Q: What will be the nature of the 10th and 12th standard board examinations or will there be any changes in them?
A: The new policy will make the 10th or 12th board exams easier. The emphasis will be on holistic learning of students rather than on rote learning or learning from coaching classes. All students will be allowed to take the board examination twice during any school year to eliminate the higher risk aspect of final examinations. The main examination and an improvement will be allowed if necessary.
Q: What will be the impact of the new education policy on higher education like medical and engineering?
A: Medical education needs to be revisited. People use pluralistic alternatives in healthcare. Our health education system needs to be integrated, Which means that all students of allopathic medical education should have a basic understanding of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani and Homeopathy. The same will apply in the case of all other medical students. Engineering stream will also be introduced within multi-disciplinary educational institutions and programmes with a renewed focus on opportunities to engage deeply with other disciplines.
Q: What has the new education policy brought for the students at the primary level?
A: In the new education policy, students will be benefited with flexible, multifaceted, multi-level, sports-based, activity-based and innovation-based education system from the initial stage itself. The overall objective of this policy is to achieve optimum results in the physical, cognitive, social, moral and cultural development of children. The medium of instruction will be the mother tongue of the children.
Q: What will be the fundamental changes in the process of learning and teaching in the new education policy?
A: The new education policy emphasizes on the reduction of school curriculum burden, increased flexibility, learning in a creative way rather than rote learning. Along with this, school textbooks will also be changed. Wherever possible, teachers will also have a number of options from textbooks. They will now have several sets of such textbooks Which will include the required national and local content. The teachers will be able to teach in a way that suits their own style of teaching keeping in mind the needs of students.
Q: What will be the process of admission in higher educational institutions -- graduation, post-graduation. How can more and more students be imparted higher education?
A: The principles will be the same for the university entrance exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will undertake the Higher Quality General Aptitude Test, as well as the examination of the specific general subject at least twice every year in science, humanities, language, arts and vocational subjects. The NTA will undertake the admission test for undergraduate and graduate admissions and fellowship in higher educational institutions. It will be left to the universities and colleges to decide whether to adopt the NTA entrance exam for admission in their institutes.
Q: How will the new education policy be effective in the field of technical education?
A: The impact of technology on all human enterprises is increasing the possibility of bridging the gap between technical education and other disciplines. Thus technical education will also be introduced within multi-disciplinary educational institutions and programmes and will focus on renewed linking opportunities with other disciplines. Degree and diploma programmes in technical education are included. For example, engineering, technology management, architecture, pharmacy, catering etc which are important for the overall development of India.
Q: What kind of changes will be made for teachers in the new education policy?
A: Along with ensuring the important role teachers will play in the new education policy, the quality of teachers' education, recruitment, posting, service conditions and their rights have been assessed. The change has been ensured by extending the B.Ed programme along with the teacher eligibility test. The policy aims to increase the capacities of teachers to the maximum level. Teachers will be given more freedom to select courses. Teachers will have to do the work from the point of view of all-round development of students keeping in mind the social and emotional aspects. Teachers will be honoured for positive results. Under the new policy, teachers will get opportunities for their sustainable professional development.
Q: You said that the new education policy will be based on knowledge, culture and Indian ethos. What provisions have you made in it for that?
A: This policy is based on the principle that education should not only develop basic abilities like literacy and numeracy as well as a higher level of logical and problem solving cognitive abilities, but also the creation of the moral, social, emotional character of students. Knowledge, wisdom, the search for truth are always considered to be the highest human goals in Indian thought tradition and philosophy. The goal of education in ancient India has been considered as complete enlightenment and liberation of the human soul. Indian culture and philosophy have a major influence in the world. This rich heritage of global importance not only needs to be preserved for the coming generations, but research work should also be done on it. It needs to be further enriched.
Q: What kind of changes do you see in colleges and universities after the new education policy is implemented?
A: The nature of universities will change after the new education policy comes into force. If we define the university, there will be many types of institutions, which will give equal importance to teaching and research. A primarily autonomous degree granting college would refer to a large multi-disciplinary institution of higher education. At the same time, a phased system will be implemented to give autonomy to colleges. Over time, gradually all the colleges will either become degree-granting autonomous institutions or develop as part of a university.
Q: Parents are still apprehensive about the opening of the schools. What are the plans for opening the schools, especially for the primary level students after the lockdown?
A: Under the guidelines of Unlock 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the schools, colleges and all coaching institutes to remain closed till August 31. According to the guidelines of the Home Ministry, we will take a further decision later.
(IANS)
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