NEP 2020 is transformative, not incremental

The Union government has announced a new National Education Policy, 34 years after the last one.

- REKHA DIXIT

The proposals in it have largely been welcomed by stakeholders. Higher Education Secretary Amit Khare speaks to THE WEEK, explaining how the policy will take effect over the next few years. Excerpts:

By when should we see the NEP rolling out?

There are around 140 recommendations each, for school and higher education. So, the policy will be rolled out in phases. For the new degree system, we will have credit transfers, and [for that] we have to create a credit storage first. The credit bank should be ready by December. So, from the academic year 2021, flexible degrees will be introduced in the Institutes of Eminence (IOE) and in-state universities that wish to join.

In schools, we need to have the curriculum framework ready for the first five years of the 5+3+3+4 system. The working groups have been formed, their reports should be submitted by next March, so the new system can be introduced gradually from 2021 itself. By 2023, the first batch of students should be taking the new board exams for Classes 10 and 12.

However, for the next few years, both systems will continue, in schools and colleges, so that students who are already studying in one system are not inconvenienced.

The National Education Technology Forum (NETF) should be set up by December, the Higher Education Commission Bill will be placed in the public domain by September end so that vice-chancellors and academicians can share their comments. The National Research Foundation (NRF) should be ready by December.

So now, will the bachelor’s degree be a four-year course?