PHD Chamber lauds New Education Policy 2020; A Unique Milestone to achieve Equitable and Inclusive Education

No.PR-182 July 30, 2020 New Delhi PHD Chamber lauds New Education Policy 2020; A Unique Milestone to achieve Equitable and Inclusive Education While appreciating the Government’s New Education Policy 2020, Dr D K Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a press statement that it is a revolutionary step in the history of education system by making way for school and college education to become more equitable, inclusive, holistic, flexible and multidisciplinary suiting to the needs of 21st Century. Under the NEP 2020, the current 10+2 structure of school curricula has been replaced with 5+3+3+4, dividing the structure into foundational stage, preparatory stage, middle stage and secondary stage. This will bring in children of age group of 3-6 years into the ambit of formal education and will lead to creation of a strong foundation base, said Dr D K Aggarwal. The historic decisions to reduce curriculum content, conduct teaching and learning in a more interactive manner, adoption of experiential learning, among others will provide well-diversified exposure to students, enable them to study subjects according to their specific interests and build the power of critical and analytical thinking in them, said Dr D K Aggarwal. Multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification that allow for awarding of certificate after 1 year, Advanced Diploma after 2 years, Bachelor’s Degree after 3 years and Bachelor’s with Research after 4 years, along with an Academic Bank of Credit will promote ease of attaining education in the coming times, said Dr D K Aggarwal. Preference to the mother tongue/ regional language as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, will promote multi-lingualism among students and enhance the power of language in the country, said Dr D K Aggarwal. Transformation in the assessment of students comprising of easier Board Exams, 360-degree & multidimensional progress report, among others will reduce the fear & pressure of exams, promote application based learning & assessment and test core competencies and overall development of students, said Dr D K Aggarwal. Increased exposure to vocational education, vocational exposure at early ages in middle and secondary school, internship opportunities to learn vocational subjects throughout Grades 6-12, among others will promote practical education and exposure at early age and make students ready for real world, said Dr D K Aggarwal. Setting up of National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) will boost digital learning and support the Digital India vision and mission of the Government, said Dr D K Aggarwal. The focus to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035 is encouraging as it will help in raising the literacy levels in the country, said Dr Aggarwal. The announcement of setting up a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) as a standard-setting body is an significant reform to promote more competency, learning and development, and testing higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity, said Dr Aggarwal. The focus of the Centre and the States to work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest will go a long way to strengthen education sector of the country in the coming times, said Dr Aggarwal. Ends Media Division PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry