Dr. Varun Gupta, an Educationist, and Entrepreneur, poised to leverage educational qualification and experience towards steering a successful career as an Educator and Entrepreneur with higher learning institutions has offered immensely to the world of Education and Trade sector alike. Currently, he is the Executive Vice President at On Sky Global and Chief Operating Officer, a USA and UK based institution respectively, engaged in imparting skill-based job-ready career programs in various capacities. Dr. Varun Gupta has touched upon the lives of more than 2,00,000 people and has traveled to more than 50 countries to spread the light of leadership, motivation, and guidance under the umbrella of education, skills training, public administration good governance, etc. by placing oneself as a renowned edupreneur in India.
True to say that the first and foremost aim of education is to develop a child/individual so that s/he may enjoy a quality life in terms of social, economic, and intellectual developments. Education not only improves one’s discerning abilities, but it also enables the person to utilize knowledge, skills, and other resources in a rational and productive manner for the self and society at large. The new education policy is the need of time as it has been planned with the aim of making “India a global knowledge superpower”.
New Education Policy announced by the Government of India on July 29, 2020, is welcomed and appreciated by many eminent academicians, educationists, and thought leaders and they believe, in the future, it will be considered as a landmark decision in the Indian Education System. Dr. Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, and Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting (I&B) have critically studied the ongoing policy before making the desired changes. Besides, Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi had seen and discussed NEP 2020 with former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief, K Kasturirangan.
3-Language Formula: The introduction of the 3-language formula is the best thing in NEP. Now, under the new National Education Policy (NEP), all students will learn three languages in their schools. At least two of the three languages should be of Indian origin. This decision is appreciable as it is important to focus on multilingualism right from the school level.
Regional language as a medium of instruction: Anywhere workable, the mode of instruction till at the minimum Class 5 but ideally till Class 8 and far off, will be the language either regional or mother tongue.
Complete utilization of school building and ICT: Second best thing in NEP is that all the school complexes will be used for adult education courses after school hours. This will be the full utilization of a school building. After school hours the building to be used as a public library meant for adult education courses which will be fully equipped with Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This step will help, increase, and optimize the transfer of information, as well as, will improve the learning & teaching methods.
Vocational studies and ensuring future employment opportunities: One more thing which is highly appreciable in NEP is to implement vocational studies in the school level during Grade 6 to 0. This includes painting, carpentry, electrical work, metalwork, gardening, pottery making, cooking, tailoring, etc. This step will help students to be skilled and will provide good employment opportunities. Besides, 10 days internship will be done with professional artists, painters, potters, carpenters, etc which will be beneficial for the students. This education will also be given through online modes. This way it will create earning opportunities for the professionals also.
Separate unit for digital and online learning: A separate unit for digital and online learning will be provided to ensure the e-education requirement at school and higher level. A complete set of advice for promoting online education resulting to the recent rise in epidemics and pandemics in order to make sure preparedness with different methods of quality education. This decision will help in planning study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around. Besides, students can study and work at their comfort.
Provisions for disabled children: One unique thing in NEP 2020 is that the policy has been designed considering the benefit of disabled children. Now such children will also participate in the regular schooling process from the starting stage to higher education with the support of educators with cross-disability experience and required technology.
No school bags: NEP 2020 will motivate bagless days throughout the year for different types of teaching methods including varied activities like craft, quiz, arts, music, sports, fun with science, etc. This will develop an interest in learning in students.
Experiential learning: NEP 2020 to encourage experiential learning through sports, story-telling, sports, etc. Classroom proceedings will convert to competency-based learning and education.
Curriculum content to be reduced: Syllabus will be less in every subject to its key necessity, and will allow room for evaluative intelligence and increased comprehensive, reasoning based, group discussion-based, and discovery-based learning.
Health check-ups and a balanced diet focused: NEP 2020 will focus on regular health check-ups and a balanced diet of children. This aims to ensure the overall development of a child other than studies.
Other changes according to NEP 2020 are as follows:
- NEP to offer free boarding facilities matching the standard of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya’s particularly for students from poor underprivileged backgrounds. This will give a good atmosphere to the marginalized children and will help them in completing their education and knowing many other things.
- Pre-school sections with at least one year of early childhood care and education will be added to Kendriya Vidyalaya’s and other primary schools especially in disadvantaged areas. NEP 2020: NCC wings in secondary and higher secondary schools under Ministry of Defence Under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence, State Governments may encourage opening NCC wings in their secondary and higher secondary schools, including those located in tribal-dominated areas
- BED will be of four years now and selection of teachers will be more strict
- Indian education segment to get 6% of GDP, previously it was 1.7%