STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reorient India to global benchmarks.
Addressing the “Education Summit 2022” organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry , Dr Jitendra Singh said, NEP is the biggest path-breaking reform in India since independence as the new policy is not only progressive and visionary but is also in keeping with the emerging needs and requirements of 21st century India.
He said, it gives due priorities to the inherent talent, knowledge, skill and aptitude of the students, rather than focusing only on degrees. He added that it also gives the young scholars and students enough room to decide their options depending upon their aptitude and their personal circumstances from time to time. Dwelling on the merits of NEP-2020, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the provision of multiple entry/exit option is something to be cherished as this academic flexibility will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic learning and inherent aptitude. The Minister also said that the feasibility or appropriateness of this entry/exit option can be in future contemplated for the teachers as well, giving them career flexibility and upgradation opportunities as is done in some western countries and the USA.
The Minister said, the policy advocates creative and multidisciplinary curriculum that includes humanities, languages, culture, sports and fitness, health and well-being, arts and crafts, in addition to science and mathematics. It reflects the true essence of Swami Vivekananda’s Man-making Education, Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Education and Mahatma Gandhi’s Basic Education.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, today, around 40 million Indians are in higher education, more than the figure for The United States and the European Union combined and the ambitious new education policy seeks to double that number. He said, it is a big goal, but no doubt it is achievable.
The Minister concluded by saying that the NEP was launched to transform India’s education system through a multidisciplinary approach. With the National Education Policy completing two years on July 29, 2022, post its roll out, 2,774 Innovative Councils in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 28 states and six union territories (UTs) have been established, as per an internal progress report by the Ministry of Education. As per the report 2,000 institutions in higher education are set to begin as skill hubs and of this 700 have registered on the common portal of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
