New Education Policy is set to bring numerous changes to the landscape of both school and higher education. The policy brings changes in many fronts including the choice of subjects, quality of research, number of years in every course, vocational training and others. The moment the transformation happens, the education spectrum of India will feel new and different. On this, various industry heads and institutional heads have come ahead to express their thoughts. Here’s a collection of the feedback from the college & industry heads.
OPINIONS
“Hon’ble HRD minster has introduced the NEP, that is bold and refreshingly transformative. It is disruptive in the way it looks at education and hence building the future generation. It signals the end of ROTE and brings in assessments based on application of core concepts, introduces skills from grade 6 onwards, enabling every child to have at least one skill at the end of school education. A new target of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035 is ambitious. The emphasis on multidisciplinary education and flexibility of subjects is interesting and will help in broad basing the thinking for next generation. I feel that graded Autonomy, Single Regulator, Phasing out affiliation system in 15 years, Special Education zones, emphasis on language, multiple entry and exit will herald a transformation in Indian Higher Education. It is now time to look at our existing systems, people and compulsions and prepare them for the transformation without dilution.
–Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and Sector Head – Education and Skill Development, KPMG in India
“We have been eagerly waiting for this day! The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has the potential to create profound long-term impact, affecting the social and economic fabric of our society — that’s the power of education, particularly given our demography.
The NEP 2020 advocates major reforms in higher education — holistic and multidisciplinary education, flexibility of subject choices and program durations, etc. This is what we at Shiv Nadar University have been practising & advocating, and NEP 2020 gives new energy to our vision and approach. The concept of a Multidisciplinary Education & Research University (MERU) will find resonance in our young campus! We welcome the creation of the National Research Foundation (NRF). With freedom comes responsibility. I am particularly appreciative of the forward-looking “common norm for public and private HEIs” — every institution should be held accountable, in a progressive & fair way.
In the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis on the use of technology is very well received. Technology enables but it also limits… I strongly believe that technology cannot dictate what happens to the teaching-learning process, instead the pedagogy should lead to our choice of technology — “technology in the hands of a great teacher can be transformational.” The new Policy also paves the way for a single regulator for the entire HE sector, excluding Legal and Medical… As always, the devil lies in the details, and we will see how to get the NEP 2020 translated to action on ground, true to the spirit of the reforms envisaged to empower the students in the country, to discover and fully develop their unique potentials.”
– Dr. Rupamanjari Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University
“The much-awaited New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has got the Cabinet approval today. The document is based on foundational pillars of access, affordability, equity, quality and accountability. With the flexibility for the choice of subject across streams it is aimed at building skills in their subjects of interest. The three language early foundational based learning will improve focus on Indian Classical Languages. Each State is proposed to have a State School Regulatory Authority to monitor the School education.”
– Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder at SAI International Education Group and Advisor (Rank of Minister of State), Govt. of Odisha
”The New Education Policy was long-overdue and we welcome the future-facing changes introduced by Government of India. Overall, strengthening the school education system, making efforts towards making India as a global education hub and having one regulator brings much-needed focus towards making India an international knowledge superpower. Reforms such as having a self-declaration system, bringing in a 4-year-undergraduate program, replacing a cumbersome inspection system and adding an additional 1-year after 12+3 to help students be eligible for many top-ranked global programs will remove unique barriers that Indian students have faced in the past. As an engineer, an entrepreneur and a University founder, I am extremely pleased to see the blurring lines between liberal arts and sciences as the modern workplace demands some new-age skills that go beyond the silos created by a technical only education-or a liberal arts-only approach. As someone who has worked with students looking to go abroad for over 20 years, I must say that one big differentiator in Indian Vs. International education has been academic flexibility. The NEP 2020 with flexibility and multiple exit-options, including a one-year Master’s program and focus on digital education, will hold us in good stead in the times to come and positively impact future students.”
–Mr. Vineet Gupta, Founder & Trustee, Plaksha University and MD, Jamboree Education
“We welcome the move made by The Cabinet to rename the HRD ministry to the Education ministry as the role of the department is to further and provide education. Allowing global institutes to set up campuses in India is also a positive move as it will increase competition because it will open up our education system and it will also help sustain high talent in the country as students don’t have to move out to pursue education. Changing the pedagogical structure from a 10+2 system to a 5+3+3+4 system is in line with international educational standards. Due to the small structure of our IIMs and IITs, despite having ample talent, they were unable to figure in top 100 institutes of the world. Allowing technical institutes to become multi-disciplinary will help IIMs and IITs to start other departments like medical etc and make their size bigger and allow them to admit more students. This will enable them to compete with the elite institutes of the world and become at par with them in the coming years. Diversification makes education more complete and helps increase intellectual outcome. Overall, the changes have been made according to the global system of education. This will also help attract foreign students to India and help the economy as well.”
–Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur
“Industry lauds the reformatory step by Honorable PMO by announcing a National Education Policy 2020. This policy was long due, to disrupt the current education system and bring the transformation to learn and turn the future Indian minds. I am delighted to see a diverse policy that aims to meet the future learning needs which will engrain practical skill-based learning to shape the learners being Industry ready. The policy very well addresses most of the critical issues that daunt our current education landscape and brings about a totality in terms of the paradigm shift that we need for educated and skilled people in India. The NEP will offer multiple exit points in studies, which means that one could actually get into employment at different ages, different times, and different levels of education which is a thoughtful strategic structure.
As Indian employment breed faces a dichotomy with compartmentalized skillsets wherein many of them are unemployed due to lack of skill-based education. In the backdrop of this alarming scenario, NEP is a step in the right direction towards a radical shift in the education disciplinary system to bring exponential growth. To combat this issue, in June this year we announced a new cluster university called the HSNC University that constitutes – The HR College, KC College, and BTT College in Mumbai. The university aims to offer a liberal education system that fosters competitiveness, creative thinking, innovation, and other skill sets. I am pleased to see the National Education Policy 2020 be in sync with the vision of our University and look forward to it.
If implemented in true ‘letter and spirit’ by all stakeholders it will undoubtedly transform the overall educational ecosystem in the country and should be brought into force as early as possible as it is the need of the hour.”
–Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Provost – HSNC University
The recently unveiled new National Education Policy (NEP) is one of the most groundbreaking reforms by the government and an important step in revamping the entire educational universe. Allowing foreign Universities to set up campuses in India will bring the best international practices to the country. It will entirely revamp the higher education system, and the curriculum will be more in sync with the demand of the Industry. Emphasis on e-learning will be immensely beneficial for students and the setting up of Academic Bank of Credit along with multiple entry/exit points will go a long way in improving the country’s Gross Enrolment Ratio. The policy will integrate vocational and academic courses, resulting in producing Industry ready professionals, something which RICS SBE has been doing since inception as it has been launched with the same objective. Also, the increased focus on research and a higher budget allocation of 6% of GDP from 1.7% earlier on the education sector will surely help India in achieving its aim of reclaiming the position of knowledge superpower over the years.
–Mr. Ashwani Awasthi, Managing Director, RICS School of Built Environment
“The New Education Policy should have been implemented years ago to enable India’s education system to catch up with that of other fast-developing nations in Asia. The focus on light government regulation, multidisciplinary institutions and creating equivalence of vocational and academic streams are welcome, but these have been a part of other countries’ education models for years. It would have been good to have some more innovative ideas implemented like recognition of pathway/twinning programs with foreign universities, permission for for-profit firms to set up schools & colleges, allowing corporate CSR funding for primary research in universities and allowing universities to offer online degrees to outside their geographical jurisdiction. As education is a state subject, it is important for the central government to create a mechanism to ensure each state implements these new policies effectively.”
–Dr. Akhil Shahani, Managing Director, Shahani Group
“The National Education policy has certainly made bold and historic reforms towards the quality of education and improving student learning outcomes. It is not only designed to directly address the gaps which were prevalent earlier but also recognises the importance of EdTech as a medium. The announcement regarding 6% public investment of the GDP in education sector will provide a much needed boost to the quality and scope of education in the country. In a bid to ramp up digital and education becoming multilingual, the accessibility will increase across the country as institutes will introduce multi-disciplinary platforms. Integration of creative combinations of subjects, specialised learning, character development, blended learning, inter disciplinary methods, and flexible curriculums will help strengthen emotional intelligence, critical thinking and problem solving skills of students making headway for a bright future in the 21st century. In higher ed, multiple exit options in degree courses will give a boost to vocational qualifications and practical knowledge which is the need of the hour with changing times globally. While there are many aspects still to retrospect, the charter is truly a testimony of quality consultation and deep thinking, hence unlocking the construction of a new nation.“
– Mr. Ramananda SG, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Pearson India
“The new policy’s focus on providing students flexibility and furthering digital education is timely and much needed. We believe that tech-enabled learning is the best way to achieve scale as well as maintain uniform quality irrespective of geography or physical infrastructure availability. Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity and stronger conceptual understanding will encourage students to become self-motivated learners. This is much needed for students to acquire skills that will prepare them for the unseen jobs of tomorrow.
India is home to the world’s largest K-12 population and the universalization of early school education, the push to improve gross enrollment ratio and a renewed focus on new life skills such as coding will help create a stronger pipeline of future leaders in India. As a proud homegrown company, the policy’s aim to instil a deep-rooted pride in being Indian and promoting India as an education hub highly resonates with us as we continue to work resolutely towards making a mark on the global map.”
– Byju Raveendran, Founder & CEO, BYJU’S
“National Education Policy 2020 has brought a long-awaited change in the education system of our country. It emphasizes on universal access to school education and standard quality education across all the deemed, central, and other standalone universities. It also makes our pedagogy structure all-inclusive, flexible and fulfils the requirements of the 21st century. NEP 2020 will bring teachers to the forefront of this change as all its components aim at improving results and classroom turnout ratios. One of the interesting elements of the policy is to provide infrastructural and academic support to dropouts (rounding up to 2 crore) by formulating different ways of learning with the help of formal and informal education modes. There is a special provision for socially and financially challenged groups in the new policy. And as we move towards a new normal of online teaching, the cabinet has even dedicated a unit to manage digital infrastructure, digital content and capacity building under their wings to make sure all the e-education needs are fulfilled. I personally feel this policy will make way for far more institutional changes that our education board needs. For now, let’s welcome the change and hope it brings out the best in our education system.”
–Dr. Sunita Gandhi, Founder of Global Classroom Pvt Ltd (GCPL) and Global Education & Training Institute (GETI)