Re-energising higher studies: Roadmap for new education policy
The National Education Policy-2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the inspirational goals of 21st Century education, while remaining consistent with India’s traditions and value systems.
It is based on the principle that education must develop not only cognitive capacities but the ‘foundational capacities’ of literacy and numeracy and ‘higher-order’ cognitive capacities, such as critical thinking and problem solving and also social, ethical and emotional capacities and dispositions, thereby emphasising upon the creative potential of every individual. The policy envisions a complete overhaul and re-energising of the higher education system for better quality with equity and inclusion. The policy’s vision includes the following key changes to the current system, thus preparing a roadmap for its implementation:
Technology is important in l our move towards Atmanirbhar Bharat as it can be used to provide inclusivity and flexibility to students. Teachers have a big role to play in education. Younger faculty in various institutions has already realised and recognised that along with face-to-face teaching, online education tools in parallel are helpful. Technology has given access to best of teachers. During Covid times, this has been realised by all. In future, uploading of lectures by teachers on various e-platforms will help the students. Such lectures can be heard by students at their own pace and space.
Massive Open Online l Courses ( MOCC), already much used in the field of engineering, has and will become useful for other disciplines and courses too.
Revamping curriculum, l pedagogy, assessment, and student support for enhanced student experiences.
Increased access, equity and l inclusion through a range of measures, including greater opportunities for outstanding public education; scholarships by private/philanthropic universities for disadvantaged and underprivileged students; online education, and Open Distance Learning (ODL) and all infrastructure and learning materials accessible and available to those with disabilities.
Online degrees are being l conferred on postgraduate students. The need is to start the same at under graduate level also. It is possible in many streams but may be difficult in science and engineering, for which efforts should be made.
Learning by doing and peer l learning in our own localities should be encouraged.
India today has around l
1,000 universities across the country. Doubling the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education by 2035 which is one of the stated goals of the policy will mean that we must open one new university every week, for the next 15 years. To increase this GER to 50% by 2035, open and distance learning has a key role to play. Need is for making use of available e-resources, feedback sessions, academic support portal, podcast, credit transfer of courses, more open universities, translation and development of programmes in local languages.
Stress should be on equitable l technology for better reach in 2020. Hence, flexible curriculum, credit transfer, extracurricular activities, use of IT in higher education, open and distance education, information to be on fingertips and reach masses through more TV channels. Language of instruction should be multilingual.
In higher education, the l
NEP’s focus on inter-disciplinary learning is a very welcome step. Focus has to be on pursuit of teaching and research in the areas of diverse science and social sciences disciplines which are directly relevant to higher education as given in the document.
Setting up of a National l
Research Foundation to fund outstanding peer-reviewed research and to actively seed research.
PhD scholars should do l research work on technology that is relevant in current times. Reorienting and strengthening the existing PhD programme to meet the needs of enriched teachinglearning processes.
Giving academic freedom l and autonomy to universities will act as a catalyst in implementation of NEP-2020.
Reaffirming the integrity of l faculty and institutional leadership positions through merit-appointments and career progression based on teaching, research, and service.
Moving towards a higher l educational system consisting of large, multidisciplinary institutions , with at least one in or near every district, and with more HEIs across India that offer medium of instruction or programmes in local/ Indian languages.
Further, with the help of l eminent educationists and academicians, time-to-time mentoring programmes to be organised.
From a funding standpoint, the NEP-2020 envisages an increase in education spending from 4.6% to 6% of GDP, which amounts to around ₹2.5-lakh crore per year. This money will be well-spent building schools and colleges across the country, appointing teachers and professors. What, however, makes things tricky is that this policy comes into being at a time when the economy has been battered by Covid-19 related lockdowns, government tax collections are abysmally low, and the fiscal deficit is high. Urgent need is to make the optimum use of available resources by institutions.
INDIA TODAY HAS AROUND 1,000 UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DOUBLING THE GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO IN HIGHER EDUCATION BY 2035 WHICH IS ONE OF THE STATED GOALS OF THE POLICY WILL MEAN THAT WE MUST OPEN ONE NEW UNIVERSITY EVERY WEEK, FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.