New Delhi: The Narendra Modi lead central government has put forward the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that plans to introduce and implement a sea of changes across all levels of education in India.
The last NEP was drafted in 1986 and some necessary amendments were made in 1992. Therefore, India, a nation with around 37.4 million students has received a revised education policy after nearly 34 years. Since the NEP-2020 is a layered approach to the education system in India, there are many aspects still unclear to the public.
ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview with the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank tries to answer some questions regarding the NEP 2020…
Q: What were the main challenges while drafting this New Education Policy?
A: When a policy is prepared to cover such a broad spectrum, it envisages the entire country. While drafting it, we discussed it with the states in a very comprehensive manner. We also spoke to the parents of millions of students as well as the Vice-Chancellors of more than 1000 universities - there are more than 45000-degree colleges. We have consulted teachers, academicians and scientists. Hence, it is after very extensive consultation, that we have brought this New Education Policy. I think this must have been the biggest discourse in the whole world and so I can say that the New Education Policy is similar to the nectar derived after much churning. The NEP 2020 has also been welcomed by the whole country with open arms.
Q: Is the government financially prepared to implement this new education system across India?
A: Yes naturally, because the topic of education is also a matter of the states and not only the states, we have also consulted with 2.5 lakh village committees as well. We had received more than 2.5 lakh suggestions, and after making a secretariat by inducting a team of 1820 experts, we have brought this education policy after extensive analysis.
Therefore, no one can complain that no one has been consulted. This is perhaps the first such policy in the world, that has come after such an extensive consultation.
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Q: Why was there a need for a Commission for Higher Education realised? Is this not an interference with the existing system?
A: I do not think there is the interference of any sort. It is a matter of providing comprehensive facilities. Till now University Grants Commission (UGC), ICT, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) were there and they were separate due to their autonomy being responsible for doing three or four things separately. We felt that all these bodies should come under one roof.
Therefore, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be formed and under it, 34 councils will decide 12 courses. HECI has four independent verticals - National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, General Education Council (GEC) for standard-setting, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and National Accreditation Council (NAC) for accreditation so that people do not have to run pillar to post.
This decision has been taken after giving a deep thought on how we can provide the best education of the highest quality.
Q: You have made vocational training mandatory, which is a good step, but there is a dearth of teachers who are expert in these subjects in the country. How is the ministry planning to deal with such a situation?
A: See, we have initiated the vocational scheme and it has been started with a full will. Until now whatever the child, learnt at school, he could not apply the same knowledge in his practical life. On one hand, what he/she studied was completely different on the other, the practicality of life was completely different. So whether the child is able to reap its benefits in the future or not or whether he/she would be able to take advantage remained a mystery. Therefore, we have bridged the gap between education, academicism and vocation.
Q: You have invited foreign universities as well. How will the government control them? How would they be different from the rest of the universities?
A: You know about seven and a half to eight lakh Indian students are studying abroad. If you see, every year India is losing its revenue and about one and a half lakh crores of talent also goes out, and once these talented students leave they do not return.
So it's not only about a brain drain that takes place but they also use their talent for other countries, contributing to their development. Now we are trying to deter this process. We have now initiated 'Stay in India' in an all-round set up. We have tried to improve the quality of education and have worked towards bettering the capabilities. Hence the students who went abroad for a better education will now be able to attain it in India itself. When we invite the experts of the world to come to India, it would be according to our contract and conditions.
Q: There have been talks of grading system in the university; will it not increase disparities between these universities?
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A: No, why would inequality increase if you are being evaluated? If you are fulfilling all the types of standards that are necessary, then you will move forward. You will assess progress only on the basis of evaluation. We currently have more than one thousand universities in the country. There are more than 45000 degree colleges. Out of these 45000 colleges, only 8000 colleges have autonomy.
Now we want them to continue to meet our standards so that we can give autonomy to more colleges. Now when we look at the autonomy of universities and the affiliation with them, there are seven-eight hundred colleges under 11 universities which by no means can be justified. Therefore, this policy also says that not more than 300 colleges will be recognized under one university, this will be done in a phased manner.
That is why the affiliated and prosperous colleges or universities will be developed according to their capacity, and their existing assessment will be that very assessment that will determine their path to prosperity.
Q: With this NEP, students will have to bear more expenses in regards to education because universities will be able to charge arbitrary fees from them.
A: It is not so. Why do people think of such a thing? Yes, we have taken some new decisions. The radical changes will have to take place. Ten plus two has been changed completely. We have made 5 plus 3 plus 3 plus 4. We have also made revolutionary changes in higher education. I am confident that with the New Education Policy, we will be able to develop the country as a knowledge-based superpower and it is on its way to becoming one soon.
