Industry Reactions On New National Education Policy (NEP 2020)

New National Education Policy was validated by the Union Cabinet Ministers Prakash Javadekar (I&B) and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (HRD), who have played a key role in developing the new policies.

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30 July, 2020

by Pooja Malik

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It took almost three decades to announced the much-awaited New Education Policy-2020. Education sector welcomed the new education policy which will provide a new path to the education system in India.

On Wednesday, New National Education Policy was validated by the Union Cabinet Ministers Prakash Javadekar (I&B) and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (HRD), who have played a key role in developing the new policies.

On 1 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assessed the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), for which a draft was set up by a board of experts driven by former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief K Kasturirangan. The National Education Policy 2020 targets making "India a global knowledge superpower".

Here is how industry reacts:

Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur
“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.”

Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO LeverageEdu
“With the RTE now extended to 18 years of age, I am supremely confident that we will see a much bigger number of our population pursing higher education. This is by far one of the most defining things to have happened in the Indian Education landscape in the last three decades. We should also use this opportunity to set up collaborations with institutes of excellence abroad, bring them here for their best practices, and have the quality be risen multiple notches too - so that we do indeed live up the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a $5 Tn economy together with very strong human development!”

Sumit Kumar, Vice President - NETAP, TeamLease Skills University
“The new education policy has been designed keeping in view the target of 50% GER by 2035, which it will achieve earlier than the deadline as the proposed flexibility and modularity in the undergraduate programs, introduction of academic bank of credit, and emphasis on the use of technology will improve enrolments. However, the policy is more input oriented and has not much emphasis upon the outcome which is employability or the job readiness. Introduction of online degree linked apprenticeship program would have ensured both the enrolments and the employability. Globally, higher education is merging with corporate learning which makes education relevant for both the students and employers. Returns on education (RoE) should be measured by job readiness. Policy should have looked at the role of employers in higher education through a tripartite arrangement. The US introduced the Student Apprenticeship Act to connect apprenticeships with higher education with a tripartite arrangement between the student, employer and the university. We are still emphasizing on numeracy and literacy in the digital world where as the ICT is the new basics in the learning system. We hope the amendment delivers on desired ROE.”

Prof. Malabika Sarkar, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University
“The much awaited NEP 2020 is a step in the right direction by the Government of India and will help achieve the mission of Literate India soon. GER of 50% is an important target and all universities must contribute to it. The initiatives announced under NEP 2020 should help achieve this target.

We are happy that the multidisciplinary approach we have been practicing is recognized as the right way to prepare students for challenges in their careers. We are also happy that continuous assessment will be the way to evaluate students, which is something we believe in.

Government-recognized multiple entry and exit options at the Undergraduate level will give more options to the youth. This, supported by an Academic Bank of Credit to digitally store academic credits, will go a long way in providing a favorable environment to students to plan their education. Ashoka has a unique one-year multidisciplinary Young India Fellowship programme that is crafted to offer students a rich postgraduate experience in one year.

The NEP also has made a bold move to resolve the binary of research and teaching and the focus on research will foster a strong culture for innovation. This, along with enhancement of digital infrastructure, will match our education system with the requirements of today’s dynamic business and economic environment.

The Government of India’s move to increase public investment in education to 6% of GDP is critical to ensure quality education which is measured on the basis of learning outcomes. Financial support to incentivize meritorious students will go a long way easing their path to the right education. The aim to ensure that merit is recognized and is not left behind because of lack of support. This is a tenet for Ashoka, and nearly half our students are on financial aid.”

Sumeet Mehta, Cofounder & CEO, LEAD School
The New Education Policy has introduced pathbreaking reforms. Few points that stand out:

1. Recognising the importance of Early Childhood Education with its 5+3+3+4 formula - some of us working in ECCE for the last 12 years couldn't be happier!

2. The move towards flexible entry and exit and breaking down the barriers between Arts, Commerce and Science. This will herald a new era of cross-disciplinary learning.

3. One that is problematic is the insistence of mother tongue till Class 5. This is against the principle of choice. Parents should choose the medium they want their children to learn in.

Shubham Dangwal, Ph.D Research Scholar & Teaching Associate at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
“This is welcome news for the education sector as from time to time our apps update themselves just like that our education also wants an update. NEP aims at meeting the existing challenges in our education system and building the new foundation for the students. Now I am waiting for its implementation,". The policy will now focus on more eLearning, all-inclusive and multidisciplinary approach towards education and is likely to allow students flexibility in choosing subjects in undergraduate and post-graduate education.

Dr. Dishan Kamdar, Vice Chancellor, FLAME University
“I would like to congratulate the Ministry for announcing the National Education Policy 2020. This is going to be a game changer for the future of the education system in India. Multidisciplinary colleges in every district by 2030 will encourage liberal arts education to a great extent. India will have the largest percentage of young population in the world by 2030. The renewed focus on arts, humanities, importance of research, mandating all institutions to offer a multi-disciplinary form of education will ensure that we will skill our young people for life and prepare them for diverse careers in the future. FLAME University is looking forward to partner in this initiative and collaborate with the government. NETF will be a milestone in the digital learning agenda especially creating an outreach in the remotest areas so that the NEP’s aim to achieve the Right to Education for all children in the age group of 3-18 years by 2030 will now be a possibility. Access to education is extremely crucial and the honourable ministry has given it great impetus thereby ensuring delivery of education gets the right upliftment. FLAME University is totally driven with the various recommendations by the NEP 2020 and is geared to welcome the initiatives. We are extremely delighted that FLAME has aligned its liberal education model in line with the government’s strategic focus on multi-disciplinary education.”