New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the new education policy. Also, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has been renamed as Ministry of Education. Officials gave this information. A committee headed by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman K Kasturirangan submitted the draft new education policy to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank last year.
It was during this time that Nishank took charge of the ministry. The draft of the new education policy was made public for the opinion of various parties and the Ministry received more than two lakh suggestions on it. A senior ministry official said, “The draft policy has been approved. The Ministry has been renamed as Ministry of Education. “
Significantly, the current education policy was formulated in 1986 and it was revised in 1992. The theme of the new education policy was included in the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The drafting experts also considered the report prepared by a committee headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian. This committee was formed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development when Smriti Irani took charge of the ministry.
New National Education Policy 2020:
- The scope of the Right to Education Act has been broadened in the new education policy. Now children from 3 years to 18 years will be brought under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
- Now all subjects like arts, music, crafts, sports, yoga, community service will also be included in the curriculum. These will not be called co-curricular or extra-curricular.
- The new education policy emphasizes on the development of life skills and the necessary abilities in children.
- Emphasis has been placed on world-class research and high quality teaching in higher education institutions under the new education policy. Now the focus will be on world class research in higher education.
- The structure of the undergraduate program will also be changed. Now during the course many options will be given to leave or enter from many classes.
- It has been recommended to include Indian knowledge systems in the curriculum, to form the ‘National Education Commission’ and to prevent private schools from arbitrarily increasing fees.
- The Commission has recommended to include teacher training and all education programs at the level of universities or colleges for comprehensive improvement in the training of teachers.
- National Education Policy 2019 is designed based on the needs of a rapidly changing society keeping in mind the diversity of Indian people, their traditions, cultures and languages.
- Changes in the education system have ensured access to high quality and comprehensive education. This will ensure India’s continued development, as well as support the leadership of economic development, social development, equality and environmental care, scientific advancement and cultural conservation on global forums.
- The biggest feature of this policy is that vocational education like school education, higher education along with agricultural education, legal education, medical education and technical education have been brought under its purview.
