Year End 2023: NEP 2020 Implementation Will Bring About Significant Changes to India’s Educational System

As 2023 draws to a close, it is appropriate to take a moment to consider the major changes to the Indian education system that have occurred this year with regard to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. After three years of implementation, the NEP has set off a series of changes in higher education with the goal of promoting inclusion, a dedication to multilingualism, international cooperation, and innovation.

Let’s examine the highlights and significant developments that have changed India’s educational scene this year:

TEXTBOOKS WITH MULTIPLE TO SUPPORT REGIONAL LANGUAGES

The NEP’s pledge to diversify education by offering textbooks in 22 Indian languages is one of its main initiatives. This program is a big step forward in supporting regional languages and social justice since it aims to promote inclusion and accommodate linguistic variety. By providing instructional resources in regional languages, the government seeks to close the gap and ensure that access to high-quality education is not restricted to a particular linguistic group. In this sense, PM Modi published 100 books in 12 Indian languages this year with the goal of promoting regional languages.

PRE-DRAFT NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

From foundational learning through secondary education, modifications to the organization and methodology of classroom teaching are included in the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) being developed under NEP. The 5+3+3+4 structure, which proposed adding three years of kindergarten to the educational system’s definition of formal education, was first proposed in the NCF pre-draft this year. The early childhood education of children in their mother language is one of the biggest transformations.

The master’s program of the US State Department is in line with NEP 2020.
The US State Department has created a master’s program especially for Indian students in accordance with the NEP, proving that India’s educational reforms are recognized internationally. This collaboration demonstrates how the strategy aims to improve intellectual exchange and global competitiveness by harmonizing Indian education with international standards. About fifteen Indian institutions and twenty American universities are taking part in constructive exchanges organized by the State Department.

FYUP’S IMPLEMENTATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) represents an advancement over the former framework, providing students with a more extensive and adaptable interdisciplinary curriculum. Students must now finish four years of coursework in order to get an “Honours” degree, as opposed to the previous three years of the UG program. If students finish 120 credits, they will get a UG degree in three years; if they finish 160 credits, they will receive a UG Honours degree in four years.

MORE THAN TWO CRORE STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE ACADEMIC CREDIT BANK

NEP 2020’s centerpiece, the UGC’s announcement of many recommendations on interdisciplinary learning, took place this year. These rules covered a wide range of concerns, including the availability of online degree programs and credit transfer via enrollment in the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC). Transferring from one institution or university to another is made simpler for students by The ABC, a digital database of each student’s credit history. Almost 2 crore students nationwide have been enrolled for the Academic Bank of Credit by October 2023.

DU ADDRESSES DIFFICULTIES AND STUDENT UNDERSTANDING DURING NEP IMPLEMENTATION

The objectives of the NEP are positive, but as Delhi University has shown, practical implementation has been challenging. Although DU is the only university in the nation to have completely adopted the NEP 2020 model, students are concerned about how well the policy will be executed in light of the recent transition. This emphasizes how important it is to prepare ahead and communicate well in order to ensure a smooth transition without compromising the quality of instruction.

Another noteworthy event in 2023 was Kerala’s decision to abandon the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum. Since each state is free to design its own curricula and textbooks, the Kerala Education Department produced new textbooks for grades 11 and 12, some of which include material that the NCERT had previously eliminated as part of its curriculum rationalization. This was announced in September. In a similar vein, a completely new curriculum that deviates from the NEP is being established by the Kerala State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).