The new digital platforms of learning and innovative techniques of teaching are propelling education to global standards and creating new benchmarks.
The quality of human capital is the touchstone of education in any country. A well-educated generation with a high literacy rate is equipped to undertake social, economic, and political roles responsibly with an overarching awareness of the global issues. This is the vision embedded in the NEP 2020, which, when fully implemented, promises to make education holistic and a lot more rewarding.
The potential of evolution in Indian education as a result of NEP and the accompanying new platforms and techniques of teaching and learning is evident.
Let’s look at some of the great benefits of the National Education Policy that can be revolutionary to the learners of tomorrow –
- Strengthening a robust foundation – Research suggests that 85% of the cumulative brain development in a child happens by the age of six. The new 5+3+3+4 formula provides a strong underpinning with the first five years dedicated to foundational learning, followed by a regularly assessed academic growth through the preparatory, middle and secondary stages.
- Focused on Holistic Development – The new curriculum will focus on holistic development for students of all grades, with an emphasis on critical thinking, discussions, and analysis. Teaching and learning will be more interactive, exploratory, collaborative, and experiential.
- Experiential Learning/ Vocational Courses – The proposal of a yearlong course in grades 6-8 in carpentry, electric work, gardening, pottery, metal work etc. will help in skill development.
- Better student assessment – NEP 2020 proposes standardized state school exams for grades 3, 5 and 8. Board exams for 10 and 12. Exams to test literacy, numeracy, and foundational skills will be very important in order to better assess each student’s understanding and progress in academics.
- A new wave of change – The new National Education Policy 2020 will bring about many changes in the way platforms of learning and techniques for teaching are utilized. With the digital revolution and pedagogical innovations, there are always new ways to learn being created. This means that educational institutions will have to change their infrastructure to accommodate the new curriculum that is being mandated.
All teachers and principals will be required to take at least 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development workshops each year in order to refine their skills. This will help to ensure that they are using the best techniques possible when teaching their students.
The National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) is an autonomous body that envisions using technology to enrich the teaching-learning experience.
E-learning platforms such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM & SWAYAMPRABHA will offer teaching and learning e-content.
Blended learning is going to be the complementary mode of education. Teachers will have to equip themselves with the digital knowhow to create synchronous and asynchronous lessons.
The Union Budget 2021-22, announced earlier this year, has already set things in motion to qualitatively strengthen 15,000 schools across India to implement NEP (National Education Policy). We are at an inception of an incredible education revolution in the country that will transform the lives of many learners.