The New Education Policy (NEP) will be introduced on a trial basis in the forth coming Scholastic Year 2022-2033 as informed by the Chief Minister. The old 10+2 System will be gradually replaced by the 5+3+3+4 .
This new Policy is a game changer. But there are many challenges.
These initiatives when fully implemented will help our children to fully exploit their talents and make their lives meaningful. A story is told of an eagle egg accidentally falling into a chicken farm. When hatched – the baby eagle did what the other chicks would do. One day the baby eagle saw an eagle flying in the sky and said I wish I could do the same – and the Mama Chicken said - You can do it too - you are an eagle not a chicken. So, now the grown eagle tried and soon enough, could fly -like the other eagles.
Our children too were handicapped with very rigid policies and could not really reach their level of competence. Basically, trained to become clerks. This new policy will turn them into Eagles, but some major issues need to be addressed.
The new Policy wants teachers to abandon the Rote Method of Education and inculcate in students, as the Report says “scientific temper and evidence-based thinking; creativity and innovativeness, problem solving and logical reasoning, collaboration and teamwork, vocational exposure and skills”. This is like music to my ears.
Teachers have been used to the Rote method and getting kids to memorise. The number of students in each class, is hardly conducive to discuss or innovate. Teachers would need to upskill. But that will not happen over-night. But there is need to first change the mindset. This will be a major paradigm shift for the teachers specially those who have had several years of experience.
The other important feature that has been envisioned is to permit students flexibility in choosing subjects from any stream including the Vocational stream. Basically this will achieve two things (1) It will give students a wide range of career choices and (2) Reduce the high drop-out rate. The NEP Report says “a significant proportion of enrolled students drop out after Grade 5 and especially after Grade 8. As per the 75th round household survey by NSSO in 2017-18, the number of out of school children in the age group of 6 to 17 years is 3.22 crore.”
Now students in middle school i.e. Ages 11-14, Classes 6-8, will have the Option to choose their subjects from any of the four Streams including Vocational. The NEP team studied what other countries do and found that In “countries such as the USA 52% adopt Vocational education, in Germany 75%, and South Korea it is as high as 96%.”
The NEP has set a target that by 2025 atleast 50% of learners would have exposure to Vocational education at School/higher education level.
NEP is a highly ambitious, because to achieve this target, we will need to augment our resources in education. If not, how will students learn the subjects they chose in vocational areas specially in small towns and villages? Will the Government permit the financial outlay involved to achieve this target? Going by the current outlay on education the Government has in fact reduced the budget on education. This being a concurrent subject, will the States have the resources to augment their Budgets?
Yet another aspect that will need major attention is School Counsellors. Students will naturally approach them for advice on Career choices vis-a vis subjects they choose based on their unique abilities and interests. Can Counsellors give each student attention, considering the numbers of students involved? The sticky issue will be the number of Counsellors – as of now, most Schools do not have Counsellors. The NEP has made several recommendations to remedy this situation: (1) The Counsellors will look after a cluster of Schools. (2) Experts and well trained Social workers willing to extend support will be called in and (3) A data Bank will be created of retired experts or those who have taken voluntary retirement, and these will be requisitioned to help.
However, while this may look attractive on paper, we cannot forget the number of kids in each class. Unless this problem is addressed, both counsellors and teachers will find it very difficult to cope with the proposed method of “creativity and innovativeness, problem solving and logical reasoning, collaboration and teamwork” and counselling with Aptitude testing. The Data Bank may help in cities, but what about towns and villages?
The other major change is at the college level. Students will have a choice to exit the 3/4 year degree program after each year. The 1st Year undergraduate student will be awarded a Certificate, if he/she opts to take up an internship. NEP says it will encourage companies to take in interns -especially those who have chosen a Vocational Program. Similarly at the 2nd year – one can get a Diploma and take a break. Students after 3 years will get a degree, but again, can opt for multi -disciplinary studies and do a fourth year.
The Government has taken many steps to provide students with Online skill training e.g. https://eskillindia.org/, https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage/courses, and many more.
Students who opt to work or work as interns after the 1st Year, may choose to enhance their qualifications by taking up relevant online programs. Many courses are free. However, employers normally like to see certifications before making job offers unless the Company agrees that the intern takes up a particular subject, which would benefit both the Company and the student. This would certainly improve the skills level and benefit productivity. Two issues could be a hindrance is laptops and connectivity. Finances again.
There are several other commendable approvals given by the Government to NEP, but space now, does not permit me to go further.
I do applaud the Government for approving the NEP recommendations. However, as it is said, the proof lies in tasting the pudding. Will it taste as the recipe says it will?
(Basil D’Cunha is a career guidance counsellor
who operates from Jesuit House, Panjim)