New Education Policy 2020: The change of perception in the Indian Education System from the schooling level

This policy change will cause a paradigm shift in the way the public will view education.

By Anurag Gupta and Rajeev Tiwari

They say learning has no end, the day you stop learning, you stop growing. As human beings, our natural instinct is to evolve to become better versions of ourselves. The New Education Policy adheres to the same. After 34 years the MHRD, now to be known as the Ministry of Education has introduced the New Education Policy (NEP) that will break through traditional methodologies and systems to provide more wholistic learning for students across the country. These reforms will open many doors of opportunities not only for students but also for the country as a whole to become a global knowledge superpower. It will change the perception of the Indian education system from the school level onwards by allowing every student to pursue their interests and excel in the field they desire.

CODING TO BE INTRODUCED FROM CLASS 6

According to the NEP, classes on coding are to be initiated for students from class 6 onwards. In a time where every individual is finding a way to stay afloat, an education reform like this will push students to stand at the forefront and take on the new world that lies ahead of them. Language is a mode of communication that has been passed on generation to generation, in the modern world of robotics and AI, coding maybe the new language, spoken. Exposing students at the K-12 level to advanced technology is a way of preparing them to adapt to the future. Coding helps inculcate a habit of curiosity. It pushes students to question, observe, analyse, and record everything around them thus breaking the old pattern of classroom education which is a restrictive, one-way exchange of learning.

Introducing coding and increasing exposure to technology at a young age will go a long way in helping future generations lead the way to a new world of innovation and creativity, thus, giving children the opportunity to set their own goals and reach new heights debarred of old teaching systems to pull them down. The secret of success for a student lies in making the best use of his capability and capacity to think. Previously the student thinks the mind of the teacher and follows their thought process. Coding helps to blossom every single unit of the child’s brain whether being logical thinking or through art integration, mechanics, or analytical thinking. It enables children to enter the world of new-age technology by giving them an arena to develop apps and games or work in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence.

10 DAYS OF COMPULSORY BAG-LESS DAYS A YEAR

Another policy that was stated in the NEP was that students will have to undertake an internship in the area of their interest and get a real-world understanding of the industry from local experts. Knowledge acquired in textbooks is cemented with a hands-on approach by putting learning into action through internships. They provide a practical understanding of the theory learned. A child at a very young age learns the art of teamwork and leadership which inculcates the habit of ownership which will further enable them to become successful entrepreneurs. During the formative years of a child, the absorption of knowledge is greater like that of a sponge. They are fascinated by their surroundings and always look forward to finding something new. They give a fresh perspective to what is around them. Pushing them to take up activities that charge their mind will help them tap into their interests with grit and determination can sprout many early age entrepreneurs. They learn to seek opportunities at every step and find innovative solutions to modern-day problems.

This policy change will cause a paradigm shift in the way the public will view education. The NEP will set a course for further upliftment of previously introduced schemes of the Government like the Atal Tinkering Labs initiative by NITI Ayog to incorporate STEM education in the education system. The world of technology has enhanced not only the student but also the teacher to probe into many techniques of presenting their skill through ‘flip learning’, imaginative experiments, role plays, debates, and discussions which brings out the thought process of both the child and the teacher. The teacher starts to widen her perspective, moving away from the conventional approach. Now the role of the teacher is as more of a guide or mentor. The carefully deliberated scheme inducted will pave the way to kick start a more advanced and applied mode of learning and fully utilise the capabilities of every student.

(The authors are Founder of STEMROBO Technologies. Views expressed are personal.)