4th Anniversary of NEP 2020 | 30 Jul 2024

For Prelims: National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Sustainable Development Goal,  PARAKH, NIPUN, Indian Sign Language (ISL), National Research Foundation

For Mains: Significance of Government Policies & Interventions in Education and Issues Related to Children.

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Ministry of Education celebrated the 4th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with a week-long campaign called "Shiksha Saptah."

  • This campaign is designed to promote and celebrate the achievements and objectives of NEP 2020.

What are Initiatives under Shiksha Saptah?

  • Vidyanjali Program:
    • Launched in 2021, it is an initiative by the Department of School Education and Literacy, that connects community members and volunteers with government and government-aided schools through an online portal. 
    • The Vidyanjali portal enables alumni, teachers, scientists, and others to contribute services, materials, or expertise to schools across India, enhancing the learning environment by integrating schools, volunteers, and the community in line with NEP 2020 objectives. 
  • Tithi Bhojan:
    • Under this initiative, people from the community celebrate important days such as childbirth, marriage, birthdays etc. by contributing to the Mid Day Meal Scheme. 
    • Tithi Bhojan is not a substitute to Mid Day Meal but it supplements or complements Mid Day Meal.
    • Cooking competitions at Block, District and State levels are organised to promote innovative menus.

What is National Education Policy 2020?

  • About: 
    • The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to address India's evolving development needs by overhauling the education system to meet 21st century goals and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while preserving India's cultural heritage. 
    • It replaced the National Policy on Education, 1986, which was modified in 1992.
  • Salient Features:
    • Universal Access: Focuses on providing access to education from pre-school through secondary levels.
    • Early Childhood Education: Transitions from the 10+2 to a 5+3+3+4 system, including children aged 3-6 in the school curriculum with an emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
    • Multilingualism: Promotes using mother tongues or regional languages as the medium of instruction up to Grade 5, with options for Sanskrit and other languages. Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardised.
    • Inclusive Education: Emphasises support for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), children with disabilities, and the establishment of "Bal Bhavans."
    • Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) Enhancement: Aim to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 26.3% to 50% by 2035, adding 3.5 crore new seats.
    • Research Focus: Establishes the National Research Foundation to enhance research culture and capacity.
    • Language Preservation: Supports Indian languages through the Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) and strengthens language departments.
    • Internationalisation: Encourages international collaborations and the entry of top-ranked foreign universities.
      • For example, in 2023 UGC released regulations to facilitate foreign universities to set up campuses in India.
    • Funding: Targets increasing public investment in education to 6% of GDP.
    • PARAKH Assessment Center: Introduces PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) for competency-based and holistic assessments.
    • Gender Inclusion Fund: Establishes a fund to promote gender equality in education and support initiatives for disadvantaged groups.
    • Special Education Zones: Creates Special Education Zones to cater to the needs of disadvantaged regions and groups, reinforcing the commitment to equitable access to quality education.

What are the Achievements of the NIPUN Bharat Mission?

  • About: 
    • A major recommendation of NEP 2020 was to ensure that children develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills by Grade 3.
    • In pursuit of this goal, the Centre introduced the NIPUN (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat Mission in 2021.
  • Demographic Trends:
    • Enrollment levels for children aged 6-14 have risen significantly, reaching over 90% in rural India by the early 2000s due to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
    • Between 2010 and 2022, the percentage of mothers with children aged 4-8 who studied beyond Grade 5 increased from 35% to nearly 60%. 
    • The proportion of mothers with over 10 years of schooling also grew from under 10% to over 20%.
    • Despite increased education, female labour force participation in India remains low at 37%, with younger women (15-29 years) showing even lower participation rates.
    • Educated mothers can significantly support their children's learning, especially given the high workforce participation of young men in rural areas.
    • The Covid-19 pandemic has increased parental involvement in education, setting a precedent for greater engagement.
    • To achieve the goals of the NIPUN Bharat Mission, further encouragement of family, especially maternal involvement, is crucial for improving foundational literacy and numeracy in children.

Drishti Mains Question

Discuss the measures proposed in NEP 2020 to promote inclusive education. How does the policy plan to support Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs)?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims:

Q. Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of ‘Inclusive Governance’? (2012)

  1. Permitting the Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking
  2. Establishing effective District Planning Committees in all the districts
  3. Increasing the government spending on public health
  4. Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (c)

Mains:

Q. National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020)