The New Education Policy 2020 is now India’s current education policy.  It was announced by the Government of India on 29 July 2020.  This is the first new change to the Indian education system since the education policy released in 1986.

New Education Policy 2020 Background

Compulsory and free education system :- In the Directive Principles of Policy of our Indian Constitution, it has been said that there should be a system of compulsory and free education for children from 6 to 14 years.

Start of formulation of National Education Policy :-

The University Education Commission was formed in 1948 under the chairmanship of Dr. Radhakrishnan.  Since then, the formulation of the National Education Policy also started.  The proposal for a significant change was first passed in 1968 under Prime Minister of Indira Gandhi, based on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission (1964–1966).

New Education Policy 1986 :-

In August 1985, a document named ‘Challenge of Education’ was prepared in which various sections of India (intellectual, social, political, professional, administrative etc.) gave their education related comments and in 1986 Government of India drafted ‘New Education Policy 1986’  got ready.  The most important feature of this policy was that it accepted a uniform educational structure for the entire country and most states adopted the 10 + 2 + 3 structure.  It was released under the Prime Ministership of Rajiv Gandhi.

New Education Policy 1986 Amendment:-

This policy was amended in 1992.  Few changes were made in this revised policy.  Major changes were not made.

The topic of making new education policy :-
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s election manifesto in the 2014 general election included the topic of formulating a new education policy.  In 2019, the Ministry of Human Resource Development started seeking public advice for a new education policy.  And now it has been declared as New Education Policy 2020 by the Government of India on 29 July 2020.

New Education Policy 2020 Major Changes 

Ministry of Education again– In this new education policy 2020, it has been decided to rename the Ministry of Human Resources as “Ministry of Education”.

Constitution of Higher Education Commission- In this new education policy 2020, a provision has been made to constitute the Higher Education Commission of India as a single body for all higher education (except legal and medical education).

Main courses like music, sports, yoga etc.– Under this new education policy 2020, music, sports, yoga etc. will be added to the core curriculum instead of the supporting course or additional course.

Target to spend 6% of GDP– Under this new education policy 2020, there is a target of spending 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on the education system, which is currently 4.43%.

M. Phil finished– In this new education policy 2020, there is a provision to end the M. Phil.

Bachelor’s degree and phd – According to this new education policy 2020, now a three-year bachelor’s degree can be pursued for admission to PhD after one year to go into research.

Teacher training – The new education policy 2020 focuses on the training of teachers.  For comprehensive reform, it has been recommended to include teacher training and all education programs at the level of universities or colleges.

Arbitrary shutdown of private schools– In the new education policy 2020, an effort will also be made to stop arbitrary fees and increase in private schools.

Obligation to select topics by group –
Earlier subjects were selected according to ‘group’, but now they have also been changed.  Students who are doing engineering can also study music along with their subject.

Social science with science– The National Research Foundation will be brought on the lines of the National Science Foundation.  Which will include science as well as social science in the curriculum.

Math and language and writing – The new education policy 2020 calls for emphasis on mathematics and language in the first and second grades and the writing of children in fourth and fifth grade.

Big change in format – In schools, 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 formats will be replaced instead of 10 +2 formats.  The first five years will include three years of pre-primary school and foundation stage including class one and class two.  Whereas government school used to start from class one, now class one will start after three years of pre-primary.  This is followed by three years of classes 3-5.  After this, the middle stage of 3 years will come i.e. Class 6 to 8.  The fourth stage (classes 9 to 12) will be 4 years old.  Previously, where there was freedom to choose subjects from 11th standard, the same will now be from 9th grade.

Mother tongue boost– In the new education policy 2020, mother tongue will be used as a medium of instruction from first to fifth.  In this, an attempt has also been made to end the Ratta Vidya which is considered to be a major flaw in the existing system.

Higher education courses are left in the middle– For some reason, the students leave the course in the middle of higher education.  After doing this, they get nothing and they have to start afresh for a degree.  The new education policy 2020 provides for a certificate on leaving the course in the first year, diploma on leaving in the second year and degree in leaving in the last year.

Feedback on new education policy 2020

After the announcement of the new education policy, there was mixed response among the intellectuals, general public and education world.  On the other hand, the announced changes have been welcomed.  But doubts were expressed over the completion of many of its goals.  The target of spending 6 per cent of GDP on education is too old to be replicated again.

● Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University M. Jagdish Kumar has called this education policy inclusive.

 ● Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor says that there are many targets laid in this policy which are less likely to be met.

 ● According to the BBC the policy and plan of the RSS have been incorporated in this policy.

 ● The University of Delhi’s organization Duta (DUTA) has criticized it as objectionable, saying that it is unfair to denounce the autonomy of universities by the Board of Governors.