NEP 2020 affect on Board examinations, here's what all you need to know

The new Education Policy has brought about many changes in the Board examinations for classes 10 and 12. Read the article to know all the key highlights.

The National Education Policy (NEP), reformed after 34 years, envisions some major changes in the education sector. The Union Cabinet on July 29 approved the new Education Policy and also changed the name of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to Education Ministry. From changes in Board exam patterns, flexibility of subjects to no rigid separation between Arts and Science streams, the NEP has brought about some major reforms for students of classes 10 and 12.

This is the first education policy of the 21st century which has replaced the 34-year-old National Policy on Education, which was drafted in 1986.

The NEP suggests following a 5+3+3+4 pattern, scrapping the 10+2 structure of the school. The new structure would follow the 3-8 years of foundational stage schooling, 8-11 years of preparatory schooling, 11-14 of middle schooling while the last stage is for years 14-18, i.e., secondary schooling. This stage consists of two sub-stages: covering classes 9 and 10 in the first phase and classes 11 and 12 in second. This stage will comprise of four years of multidisciplinary study, with critical thinking, attention to life aspirations and greater flexibility and student choice. 

Also Read: NEP 2020 Live Updates: PM Modi's inaugural address at conclave on new National Education Policy

The policies that will come onto effect by 2030 were welcomed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Academicians, industry experts, teachers and students.

How will the NEP affect Board exams?

Although, the Board exams for classes 10 and 12 will continue, the existing system of Board and entrance examinations will be changed so as to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes. Board exams shall be redesigned to encourage "holistic development". The new policy aims at making Board examinations "easier" by testing only students' “core capacities”.

Changes introduced by the NEP will change the whole syllabus and pattern for the students of classes 10 and 12. With the amalgamation of subjects and the crossover between streams, students will now be able to study subjects as per their preferences and pursue higher studies accordingly. They will have an option to choose subjects such as arts and crafts and vocational along with the conventional ones. For example, a science student will be able to choose an arts subject and study both simultaneously.

Boards may also develop further models of exams, such as - annual/semester/modular Board Exams. They might offer all subjects beginning with mathematics, at two levels — two parts exams or objective type and descriptive type, notes the NEP.

The Board exams could also become modular, i.e., can be conducted more than once in a year — one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.
Each subject offered in the board exam will have an objective as well as description exam.

Also Read: NEP 2020: Board exams to be allowed twice a year, says HRD Minister

The policy also highlights that the assessment in schools will be done through a “multidimensional report” of students appearing for the Board exams. Apart from the assessment provided by the teachers, the progress card will include self-assessment as well as peer assessment. 

The policy states there will be no hard separation among ‘curricular’, ‘extracurricular’, or ‘co-curricular’, or between ‘vocational’ and ‘academic’ streams, which suggests that extracurricular activities like sketching, painting etc maybe a part of the progress report of the students.

NEP 2020: Changes in Open Schools

NIOS and State Open Schools will be offering A, B and C levels that are equivalent to Grades 3, 5, and 8 of the formal school system. They will also be offering secondary education programs that are equivalent to Grades 10 and 12; vocational education courses/programs. They will also be enriched to provide adult literacy and life-enrichment programs.

NEP 2020: Changes in Higher Education

The policy has also mentioned many changes in higher education. The policy has phased out MPhil. Students could now directly apply for the PhD programmes after their master's degree. MPhil degrees have slowly been phased out in favour of a direct PhD programme, as per the UGC Chairman VS Chauhan.

The four-year undergraduate programme in colleges has also made a comeback. In its new form, the four-year programme is more structured. The NEP offers multiple exit options to the students — if students complete one year, they will get a certificate, two years will get them a diploma, three years will get them a degree, and if they pursue a four-year programme with research, they will be eligible for direct admissions for a PhD.
Moreover, the multiple regulators like the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). All these will now be replaced by a single regulator.

Read more:

• NEP 2020: Students to enjoy bagless days in schools
• NEP 2020: Proposed reforms for School & Higher Education
• NEP 2020: Single higher education regulator in, MPhil out, focus on research and know what all changed
• New Education Policy 2020: Board exams, syllabus, medium of instructions, Know what all has changed