All You Need to Know About the National Education Policy 2020

We all know that on 29^th July 2020, the Government of India announced the long-awaited and much-debated National Education Policy. The new policy aims to address the pedagogic and curricular needs of the youth of the nation by reforming the education system in the country. This transformation to education policy has been brought after 34 years, and the fact that it strives to invest more towards uplifting youth and adult literacy in the country makes it much-needed change in the education sector.

On that note, today we, at Sapphire International School, one among the Top 10 CBSE Schools in Noida, have brought to you a few of the highlights of the National Education Policy 2020 that we believe are going to revolutionize school education.

The reformed structure of school curriculum

The conventional 10+2 structure that we knew so far is going to get replaced by a new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure that corresponds to ages 3 to 8, 8 to 11, 11 to 14, and 14 to 18 years respectively.

This is aimed at bringing the uncovered age group of three to six years under the folds of the school curriculum. After all, this age group has been globally recognized as the most important stage for developing the mental capacities of children. Under the new system, there will be three years of pre-schooling with twelve years of schooling.

Reforms introduced in school pedagogy

The pedagogy is all set to be reformed, keeping in mind the holistic development of the students. The learners will be equipped with major 21^st-century skills, and there will be a reduction in the curriculum to increase the emphasis on experiential learning and critical thinking.

No rigid separation will exist any longer between academic and vocational streams, extracurricular and curricular activities, and arts and sciences. Students will get absolute fluidity in their choice of subjects. Vocational training will begin in schools right from the sixth grade.

The changes made in school assessments

The focus is going to shift from summative assessments to competency-based assessments that test conceptual clarity, critical thinking, and analysis. Students will have to take school examinations in grades three, five, and eight.

The board examinations for grades ten and twelve will continue, but the structure and the pattern will be redesigned, keeping in mind the aim of holistic development. The focus of board exams will be more on testing the core competencies of students. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), a new national assessment center will be set up to maintain the assessment standards.

Paying more emphasis on the power of language

The National Education Policy 2020 advocates the use of the mother tongue or local language as the mode of instruction until grade five, but preferably until grade eight and beyond.

Sanskrit has to be offered at all schools and higher education levels as an option, which includes the three-language structure. Other classical Indian languages and a number of foreign languages will also be presented as options at secondary school levels.

The National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, which is to be renamed as the Ministry of Education, will set up the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. The states have been entrusted with preparing a plan for ensuring universal foundational literacy and numeracy at all primary schools by grade 3 within the year 2025.

Greater emphasis on technology in education

The National Educational Technology Forum, an autonomous body, will be set up to offer a platform for freely exchanging ideas to enhance the use of technology in administration, planning, assessment, and learning. The aim is to ensure greater integration of technology at all educational levels.

We, at Sapphire International School, a renowned private school in Noida, wholeheartedly laud the reforms brought in the education sector by the National Education Policy 2020. Ideas of technological integration in education, vocational education, experiential learning, and holistic development align with our teaching philosophies, and we are hopeful for the positive changes these new reforms will bring in the life of the youth of our nation.