New Delhi, August 23, 2023 – Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the decision to replace the National Education Policy (NEP) from the upcoming academic session 2024-25. Earlier, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his Budget speech on July 7, 2023 had said that the National Education Policy (NEP) would be replaced with a new State Education Policy.
The Chief Minister also referred to the controversial textbook revision and said, “Education should impart the values of fraternity, harmony and coexistence in children.” It was pointed out that the current lack of adequate infrastructure within educational institutions is a hindrance to effective implementation of the NEP 2020 and the new policy has resulted in confusion.
It was added that the state government has thoroughly looked into the different aspects of the NEP 2020 and has opted to discontinue its implementation and introduce a fresh Karnataka Education Policy in the coming year. The committee responsible for formulating the SEP is expected to be formed within the next few weeks.
What is NEP 2020?
The NEP 2020, officially announced on July 29, 2020, outlines the vision of a new education system in India. It has replaced the former National Policy on Education 1986 that was modified in the year 1992. The National Education Policy 2020 proposes various reforms in school education as well as higher education including technical education.
Major Salient Features of the National Education Policy 2020
- Ensuring universal access at all levels of schooling from pre-primary school to Grade 12.
- Ensuring quality early childhood care and education for all children between 3-6 years.
- New Curricular and Pedagogical Structure (5+3+3+4). In other words, children will spend five years in the foundational stage, 3 years in the preparatory stage, 3 years in the middle stage, and 4 years in the secondary stage of their schooling.
- No hard separations between arts and sciences, between curricular and extracurricular activities, between vocational and academic streams.
- Establishing National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
- Emphasis on promoting multilingualism and Indian languages.
- Assessment reforms – Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.
- Setting up of a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development).
- Equitable and inclusive education with special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
- Setting up of State School Standards Authority (SSSA).
- Exposure of vocational education in school and higher education systems.
- Increasing Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50%.
- Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education with multiple entry/exit options.
- National Testing Agency (NTA) to offer a common entrance exam for admission to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
- Setting up of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs).
- Setting up of National Research Foundation (NRF).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the recent decision of the Karnataka government with regard to the National Education Policy (NEP)?
Ans: The Karnataka government has decided to replace the National Education Policy (NEP) with a new State Education Policy (SEP) from the upcoming academic year.
Q: Who announced this decision and where was it announced?
Ans: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the decision at a meeting in his party office to replace the National Education Policy (NEP) from the next academic session 2024-25. Earlier, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his Budget speech on July 7, 2023 had said that the National Education Policy (NEP) would be replaced with a new State Education Policy.
Q: What is the reason behind Karnataka’s decision to replace NEP 2020 with a new State Education Policy?
Ans: Karnataka’s decision is based on a thorough evaluation of the different aspects of the NEP. Resulting confusion and lack of adequate infrastructure within educational institutions is a hindrance to effective implementation of the NEP 2020.
Q: What is NEP 2020 and when was it approved?
Ans: The NEP 2020, officially announced on July 29, 2020, outlines the vision of a new education system in India. It has replaced the former National Policy on Education 1986 that was modified in the year 1992.
Q: What is the main objective of NEP 2020?
Ans: The NEP 2020 aims to provide a holistic and flexible learning experience to students by minimising the content of school curriculum with an added focus on 21st-century skills such as analytical and critical thinking, experiential learning, and creativity.
Q: What is the new curricular and pedagogical structure introduced in NEP 2020?
Ans: New curricular and pedagogical structure (5+3+3+4) emphasises that children will spend five years in the foundational stage, 3 years in the preparatory stage, 3 years in the middle stage, and 4 years in the secondary stage of their schooling.
