India’s educational landscape has undergone significant transformations, particularly with the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which replaces the earlier NEP of 1986.
The NEP of 1986 aimed to promote education amongst India’s people. It emphasized the removal of disparities and aimed to equalize educational opportunities, especially for Indian women, Scheduled Tribes (ST), and the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. The policy focused on restructuring teacher education, early childhood care, women’s empowerment, and adult literacy.
In July 2020, the Government of India unveiled the NEP 2020, marking a paradigm shift in the country’s approach to education. This policy envisions an inclusive, participatory, and holistic approach, aiming to transform India into a global knowledge superpower. It replaces the 1986 policy and introduces several structural reforms to align with contemporary educational needs.
Key Changes in NEP 2020
There are many modifications made to the NEP in the year 2020 few of key ones are:
- Structural Overhaul: The traditional 10+2 system has been replaced with a 5+3+3+4 model, corresponding to age groups 3-8 years (Foundational Stage), 8-11 years (Preparatory Stage), 11-14 years (Middle Stage), and 14-18 years (Secondary Stage). This restructuring aims to cater to the developmental needs of students at different stages.
- Emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Recognizing the importance of early years, the policy emphasizes universal access to high-quality ECCE across India.
- Multilingualism: The policy advocates for the mother tongue or local language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, to promote multilingualism and preserve cultural diversity.
- Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education: NEP 2020 proposes broad-based, multidisciplinary undergraduate education with flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects, integration of vocational education, and multiple entry and exit points.
Opposition from States
Several states have expressed strong opposition to NEP 2020 due to concerns over linguistic imposition, centralization, and infringement on state rights. Tamil Nadu has firmly rejected the three-language formula, viewing it as an attempt to impose Hindi and insisting on its existing two-language policy (Tamil and English). Kerala has raised objections regarding the centralization of education, arguing that the policy undermines the federal structure by granting excessive control to the central government. Similarly, West Bengal has criticized NEP 2020 for not considering the diverse educational needs of different states, questioning the feasibility of its implementation and the lack of clarity on funding. These states argue that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and any major reforms should involve greater consultation with state governments rather than being imposed unilaterally by the Centre.
Recent Updates
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has recently been at the center of significant debates and legal actions. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court seeking the implementation of the three-language formula proposed by NEP 2020 in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The petitioner argued that these states’ refusal to adopt the NEP could harm public interest and infringe upon citizens’ rights. The central government defends the policy as a step towards multilingualism, while states like Tamil Nadu perceive it as an undue imposition of Hindi, conflicting with their longstanding resistance to such mandates.
In Karnataka, the state government has shown support for the NEP 2020, aligning with the central government’s educational reforms at the same time, but recent events have taken a U turn for Karnataka from this stance as the age requirements and classification as per NEP 2020 has affected over 50,000 students’ admission to grade 1. Parents also have come forward with a request to make relaxation on the same as they were unaware of the rules. Further A notable confrontation occurred in the Lok Sabha between Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and DMK MPs from Tamil Nadu. Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of dishonesty regarding the implementation of the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, alleging that the state initially agreed but later reversed its position, thereby affecting students’ futures. In response, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticized Pradhan’s remarks, labelling them as arrogant and asserting that Tamil Nadu would not be coerced into accepting policies perceived as Hindi imposition.
The NEP 2020 has indeed turned heads of the citizens of the country over various aspects. Even though the objective of this policy is clear. As the education is a subject of the concurrent list, the main issue arises when the center makes policies and recommendations without consultation of the State.