Impact of draft National Education policy on University education (1920084)

Hi sir,

                                                           

The Impact of the new draft of the National Education policy has been discussed , analysed and criticised through social media, newspapers and tv discussion panels, but it is also important to take note of its impact through the lens of its key stakeholders; students.

The last National Education Policy (NEP) was discharged in 1986 and changed in 1992. From that point forward significant changes have been seen within our country but the general approach towards education hasn't been altered according to the present global needs. So as to make changes and execute new approach from essential, auxiliary and advanced education, a board of trustees was set up (June 2017) to set up a draft of another National Education Policy, under the chairmanship of Dr Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan.

 

 The NEP had made a lot of valuable suggestions for correction and had promised to look into some major issues regarding the status of the education system in our country but current changes that have been mentioned remain ambiguous and rather than resolving major issues of funding the organisations focuses on issues of Nationalism and political identities. The draft seems to be another means to forcefully unify the diverse Indian topography by forcefully implementing Hindi through the language policy, further there has been a frail attempt at ploticising by using terms like , "All stages [of school education] will heavily incorporate Indian and local traditions" (p 76).

So on the one hand the draft says that education should imbibe local traditions doesn't mention how and there is no mention of recommendations for improving research and analytical skills at the school level. The NEP according to Members of Tamil Nadu's Progressive Writers and Arts Association attempts to give importance to hindi and like all things the new right-wing governance has brought in,  fails to see the vastness and diversity of India and unifies elements under the umbrella of populist beliefs; something that brings fear to minorities and backward classes. ( Kumkum,2019 )

 

The lack of importance given to higher education particularly in the area of areas of scientific and economic has been a cause for major concern over the years (Jayaraman,2018) but few notes on diverting funding for valuable research have been made. Promises of bringing changes that are long due have been repeated again quite unceremoniously , for instance, "All schools will also be provided with computers and internet connectivity for pedagogical purposes, infrastructure and materials to support differently-abled students, safe drinking water on the school premises, functioning toilets with running water, separate for girls and boys, and basic hand washing facilities by 2022 (p 125)." These lines are a contradiction, as this clearly means that currently schools don't have these basic facilities like toilets, clean drinking water or computer equipment but the government has made unrealistic expectations for its future which increases the credibility of the promises made within the draft.

,"By 2024 (assuming 2019 as the starting point) there will be five world-class liberal arts universities modelled on Nalanda and Ivy League schools (pp 231–32). Further, all public universities will be expected to offer a four-year teacher preparation programme (p 288)." So currently schools and universities don't have basic facilities but in just a four years span the MHRD hopes to model it to the likes of Ivy League schools. No suggestions on improving research output or sparing funding for these necessities , some promises have been declared that lack integrity. The draft talks about filling the inequalities prevalent through education but fails to mention how this can be implemented and what are the target groups, how will draft target the welfare of marginalised groups and women.

 

The draft was also quick to blame the lack of unskilled teachers at various levels of education and have called the Teacher Training programs offered in the country as being sub-standard ; teachers have been criticised for the failure of the education system but there has been no mention of maintaining minimum wages or ensuring their intellectual development at the workplace. The wages of a school teacher or university teacher are sometimes equivalent to earnings in a blue collar job, skilled professionals require good wages but in this matter the draft remains ambiguous.

There has been a mention of bringing a four year honours program at the

Undergraduate level with multiple entry and exit points, which will be a good option for students who are research oriented and are seeking a degree that is Internationally transferable, this is a good alternative to the traditional three year degree programs if the program can be maintained at least a few universities.

 

Conclusion

 

The NEP has made several good recommendations but its history of lacking to implement its own policies also remains true. Even after several years have passed since the previous draft of NEP,  schools and universities still lack several basic amenities like electricity and clean drinking water. Also there has been no mention how funds will be transferred towards the maintenance of scientific and economic research within the country; which are the pillars of national development. Research in areas of Management studies is vital if India aims to be a global superpower. There are several futuristic recommendations as there are contradictions within the article and hence the public seem to vague of its contents just as its creators.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Ayyar, R.v. Vaidyanatha. "Making of National Policy on Education, 1986." Oxford Scholarship Online, 2018, doi:10.1093/oso/9780199474943.003.0003.

"Draft National Education Policy 2019." PRSIndia, 25 June 2019, www.prsindia.org/report-summaries/draft-national-education-policy-2019.

"Examining the Draft National Education Policy, 2019." Economic and Political Weekly, 27 June 2019,www.epw.in/engage/article/examining-draft-national-education-policy-2019.

Jayaraman, K. S., and Subhra Priyadarshini. "Indian Scientists Concerned over Funding Crisis." Nature India,www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2018.116.

"National Policy on Education." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 July 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Policy_on_Education.

Uttam, Mayank. "Draft National Education Policy 2019: Complete Details & Updates." Jagranjosh.com, 1 July 2019,www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/draft-national-education-policy-nep-1561925692-1?ref=desktop_details_mostpopular.

Thanks and Regards,

Shazin Aboobacker VP

1920084