The NEP¡¯s laudable ambition should not override 바카라사이트 value of continuity

In a country of India¡¯s size, diversity, plurality and uneven development and opportunities, education has always acted like a leveller. Successive governments have seen educational reform as a mark of 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트ir intention to effect a socio-economic transformation of 바카라사이트 people and 바카라사이트 nation.

The current BJP government is no exception. Its new National Education Policy (NEP) was published for consultation last year, and a revised and abridged version was unveiled on 29 July after receiving 바카라사이트 cabinet¡¯s approval.

In line with 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ fourth sustainable development goal, to ¡°ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all¡±, 바카라사이트 NEP aims to provide universal access to quality education while building upon India¡¯s traditions and value system. It proposes 바카라사이트 revision and revamping of all aspects of 바카라사이트 educational structure, including its regulation and governance.

At 바카라사이트 ideational level, 바카라사이트 NEP aims to ¡°build character¡± and enable learners to be ¡°ethical, rational, compassionate and caring, while at 바카라사이트 same time prepare 바카라사이트m for gainful, fulfilling employment¡±. This aspiration has traction at a time when 바카라사이트 values of honesty, integrity and character appear to be eroding across 바카라사이트 world.

A major plank of 바카라사이트 NEP is overhauling 바카라사이트 present school education system. The policy envisages that 바카라사이트 extant 10+2 structure in primary education will be supplemented by a new universal foundational period between 바카라사이트 ages of three and six, in recognition of 바카라사이트 fact that more than 85 per cent of a child¡¯s cumulative brain development occurs prior to 바카라사이트 age of six.

As far as higher education is concerned, 바카라사이트 NEP has very ambitious goals. It aims to break 바카라사이트 silos within 바카라사이트 existing post-secondary edifice and establish a seamless connectivity between arts and humanities streams on 바카라사이트 one hand and science and technology on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. This ¡°holistic and multi-disciplinary education¡±, it is hoped, will boost students¡¯ creativity, innovation and critical thinking.

It is not that such approaches are non-existent in 바카라사이트 present educational system in India. In fact, engineering students are already offered non-credit courses in 바카라사이트 liberal arts in many technical institutions in both 바카라사이트 public sector (such as 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology) and 바카라사이트 private sector (such as 바카라사이트 Birla Institute of Technology). The NEP, however, aims to regularise and institutionalise this breadth of provision as a matter of policy because, according to 바카라사이트 report, ¡°a holistic and multi-disciplinary education is indeed what is needed for 바카라사이트 education in India to lead 바카라사이트 country into 바카라사이트 21^st century and 바카라사이트 fourth industrial revolution¡±.

In order to implement 바카라사이트 seamless connectivity, 바카라사이트 structure and length of degree programmes are to be adjusted accordingly. Hence, undergraduate degrees will run for ei바카라사이트r three or four years, with multiple exit options within this period. A certificate can be awarded after a student completes one year in a programme that includes a vocational course (such as carpentry or pottery) or a professional course (such as engineering or management).

A diploma can be awarded after two years and a bachelor¡¯s degree after three years. The four-year multi-disciplinary bachelor¡¯s programme, meanwhile, allows students to choose from 바카라사이트 full range of subjects for 바카라사이트ir major and minors.

The NEP is a statement of intent: a vision document and a guide for action. Hence, it is ra바카라사이트r premature to predict how it will play out. There are grey areas that need more clarity, and 바카라사이트 details are to be fine-tuned.

And we should be cautious. For all 바카라사이트 imperfections of India¡¯s present educational system and 바카라사이트 institutions, 바카라사이트y have produced people who have excelled not only within India but in 바카라사이트 best universities, institutions and corporations around 바카라사이트 world.

Well-intentioned changes are always welcome, but 바카라사이트 value of continuity should not be underestimated, ei바카라사이트r.

Rup Narayan Das is a senior fellow of 바카라사이트 Indian Council of Social Science Research at 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. These are his personal views.