National Education Policy 2020

One of the major change in the national education policy 2020 is changing the existing structure of 10+2 and converting it to 5+3+3+4 of school structure.

Conversion of 10+2 to 5+3+3+4 explained:

In the old structure of 10+2 a student enters the education system at the age of 3, he goes to kindergarten 1 and kindergarten 2 then 1st to 10th and then after that 11th and 12th.

In the new structure it will be like the no. of years will be same just the distribution is changed like the 3 to 8 yrs is a group, 8 to 11 or classes 3rd to 5th is another group, 11 to 14 or classes 6th to 8th and the last 14 to 18 or classes 9th to 12th.

The new structure now proposes dividing the same structure into cognitive developmental stages of the child — early childhood, school years, and secondary stage.

The stages are described below:

Foundational Stage(5): For age 3 to 8, this stage is suggested. It would be a multi level play activity based and interactive classroom learning approach for students in 1 yr of playschool, 2 yrs of kindergarten and 2 yrs of 1st and 2nd grade.

Preparatory Stage(3): For age 8 to 11 or classes 3 to 5, this stage is suggested. It will be a play and discovery based learning and the main focus will be on language and numeracy skills. Medium of instruction till Grade 5 would be home language or mother tongue or local language. Three languages would be taught to all students — and states would decide which ones.

Middle Stage(3): For age 11 to 14 or classes 6 to 8, this stage is suggested. This stage will aim at more experiential learning in the sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences and humanities. The focus will be more on critical learning rather than rote learning.

Secondary Stage(4): For age 14 to 18 or classes 9 to 12, this stage is suggested. The changes suggested at this stage includes multidisciplinary study in which students will be able to choose a set of subjects from the available structure. The focus would be on greater critical thinking and flexibility, allowing the child to pick subjects as per their interests even technical and arts.

Apart from the structure, NEP also proposed many other changes like:

1. Key stage assessments will be conducted at classes 3, 5 and 8 for tracking the development of the child.
2. The Ministry Of Human Resource is now the Ministry Of Education.
3. As for the secondary stage, the board examinations would be reformed. They would be made easier where students would be tested on the core capabilities. Instead of just one board, a more modular model to be explored
4. M.Phil degree to be discontinued.
5. Open and distant learning to be expanded.
6. Higher education commission of India to be a single umbrella for higher education.
7. New National education framework for Teacher education to be formed.
8. National Education technology Forum to be formed to promote use of technology for teaching.
9. Aim to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy by 2030.
10. Higher education to be promoted in mother tongue/local languages.
11. Education sector to reach 6% GDP at the earliest.

Writer :- Aditya Khadse (Content Writer, Swadeshi Apnao Team)