New Education Policy 2020: Board exams, syllabus, medium of instructions, Know what all has changed

The New Education policy 2020 has come up with some major reforms to change the way the schools have been teaching students until now. Read further to know how.

The New National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) which was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, focuses on mending the overall school curriculum for the students, with reformed Board exams, reduction in the overall syllabus to retain core essentials and thrust on “experiential learning and critical thinking”. The NEP 2020, has been in the process since 2015. It also proposed to universalise early childhood care and education (ECCE) for children aged 3 to 6 by 2030 and in secondary Education (Classes 9 to 12). That means by 2030, it aims to have 100 per cent gross enrollment ration in the schools across the country. This means that all children of school-going age will be enrolled. Let's check what all changes proposed in school education.

The New National Education Policy 2020 aims to reduce the pressure on the students appearing for the Class 10 and Class 12 Board exams. The Board exams focus will be on testing concepts and knowledge application. "While the Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 will be continued, the existing system of Board and entrance examinations shall be reformed to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes. To reverse these harmful effects of the current assessment system, Board exams will be redesigned to encourage holistic development; students will be able to choose many of the subjects in which they take Board exams, depending on their individualised interests,” the policy states.

"Boards are expected to develop more viable models of Board Exams over time, such as annual/semester/modular Board Exams; offering all subjects beginning with maths, at two levels; two parts exams or objective type and descriptive type,” the NEP highlights on schools says.

Assessment of students appearing for the board exams will be done through a “multidimensional report”. Apart from teachers’ assessment, the progress card will include self-assessment and peer assessment.

The highest priority will be given to achieving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by all students by Grade 3.

Under the NEP 2020, a National Assessment Centre ‘PARAKH’ -Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) will be set up. The body will be responsible for suggesting guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognised school boards, including state boards, over which the Centre has thus far exercised no control. To prepare the students for university entrance exams, the National Testing Agency, or NTA will offer “high-quality aptitude tests” twice a year. The tests will be offered in sciences, humanities and vocational subjects.

On the medium of instruction in schools, the education policy states, “Wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, will be the home language/ mother tongue/ local language/ regional language. Thereafter, the home/local language shall continue to be taught as a language wherever possible. This will be followed by both public and private schools.”

In a shift from the 1986 education policy, which pushed for a uniform 10+2 structure of school education, the new policy pitches for reconfiguration of curriculum and pedagogy in a “5+3+3+4” design, with three years of pre-school, followed by Classes 1 and 2 in the foundational stage of 3-8 years.

The policy also emphasised on preparing 'high-quality bilingual textbooks and teaching-learning materials' in vernacular languages for subjects like science and maths. 

The curriculum, according to the NEP 2020 will now include contemporary subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking, Holistic Health, at the “relevant stages”. The students will also be allowed to take up coding from Class 6. Educational content which imparts “ traditional Indian values and constitutional values” will also be added to the curriculum.

National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCPFECCE) to be set up for children up to the age of 8. The school curriculum overhaul will come in the shape of a new National Curricular Framework for School Education (or NCFSE 2020-21), which will be undertaken by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Textbook revisions will be undertaken based on the NCFSE. The NCERT has already undertaken two extensive revisions of school textbooks since 2014.

Read More:

• NEP 2020: Single higher education regulator in, MPhil out, focus on research and know what all changed
• NEP 2020: Proposed reforms for School & Higher Education
• NEP 2020 affect on Board exams, here's what all you need to know