Introduction
“The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise…”
– Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam
India’s education system has long been criticized for its emphasis on memorization, outdated curriculum, and limited opportunities for research and innovation.
In that backdrop, the National Education Policy 2022 is a welcome move that seeks to address the long-standing gaps in the education system and provide holistic and multidisciplinary education to students, right from the elementary grades to higher education.
According to the Honourable Education Minister Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, “NEP has envisioned the increase in employability of India`s youth by training students in schools and giving importance to Indian languages. The benefits of this scheme will be seen in a few years and then it will become successful.”
Let us take a look at the impact that NEP is expected to have on our country’s education landscape.
Restructuring the Education System
The NEP aims to restructure the education system in India which has been plagued by a rigid and compartmentalized approach to education. The policy proposes to bring about significant changes in the curriculum, traditional practices of teaching, and assessment methods, with a focus on developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of the students.
Focus on Digital Education
With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for digital education, the NEP places a significant emphasis on the use of technology in education. The policy aims to provide universal access to high-quality digital resources, including e-books, e-content, and online courses. The NEP proposes to develop an autonomous organization named the “National Educational Technology Forum”, or NETF, to facilitate the use of technology in education.
Dynamic Skill-Based Curriculum
The NEP recognizes the importance of industry-academia collaboration and proposes to bridge the gap between them by developing an industry-aligned skill-based curriculum. It will ensure that higher education institutions can make students job-ready right faster.
The policy recommends appointing industry professionals and experts as professors to bring real-world experience and industry-relevant knowledge to the classroom. This signals a clear action toward fostering a stronger industry-academia partnership and ensuring that students receive the practical knowledge needed to thrive in the workforce.
Multidisciplinary Education
The NEP proposes providing a multidisciplinary education to students that combines arts, humanities, sciences, and vocational education.
In my conversation with Mr. Ashish Munjal, Co-Founder & CEO of Sunstone University, he shared how multidisciplinary education promotes critical thinking skills, which are essential for succeeding in the 21st-century job-market in India. “The NEP envisions converting all existing standalone professional institutions into multidisciplinary HEIs by 2030. Undergraduate and postgraduate STEM programs are advised to include 8% to 18% of social sciences and humanities to align with core subjects and approaches”.
Choice-based Credit System and Multiple Entry/ Exit Options
The NEP’s introduction of a choice-based credit system and multiple entry and exit options will enable a fluid system that allows for the transfer of credits and facilitates more choice through a combination of compulsory core subjects and elective courses.
Mr. Munjal adds, “The introduction of the choice-based credit system enhances flexibility, ensures recognition of students’ learning achievements, and allows them to choose courses that suit their interests and career goals. Such features can prove to be a landmark in making our higher education system more progressive”.
Prioritizing Digital Skills
The modern job market values professionals equipped with digital skills such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, blockchain, quantum computing and virtual and augmented reality, with 70% of Indian employers seeking employees with digital skills.
The NEP focuses on teaching these skills to students and making them job-ready. Equipping the youth with digital skills also has the potential to make a profound impact on the country, given that employees with these skills have already contributed ₹10.9 trillion to the GDP of India.
According to Nirmal Singh, Founder and C.E.O at Wheebox, “The government’s focus on teaching digital skills will help create microentrepreneurs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which can further help create 50 million additional jobs in these fields, by 2030.”
Promoting Research and Innovation
With this policy, the Indian government aims to create an ecosystem that fosters creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in education. The NEP proposes to set up a National Research Foundation (NRF) with a total outlay of ₹50,000 Crores over the next five years to fund and promote research in different fields of education in India.
The Way Forward
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The NEP has the potential to empower students with the skills and expertise they need to create a better future for themselves and the country.
The implementation of the NEP will require collective efforts from all stakeholders, including the government, academic institutions, industry leaders, and civil society, to create a vibrant and dynamic education ecosystem that will enable India to become a $5 trillion skilled economy by 2030.
About the Author
Pankaj Bansal is the Co- founder of Taggd and Work Universe (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB.
