NEP 2020: A BETTER EDUCATION POLICY, OR JUST A POLICY OF EXCLUSION?

By- RIYA GAUTAM

In Brian Tracy’s words, continuous learning is the minimum for success in any field. However, the Indian education system seems to have failed to understand this simple fact, with the latest National Education Policy of 2020 undoing a lot of the progress made. This policy seemingly is all sugar-coated with things people want to hear, but if we actually go deep in it to comprehend it properly, we’ll realise a policy that is so integral for the development of a country like India, taking into account the high illiteracy and poverty levels, which greatly affects the future of India in terms of education, is nothing more than a policy of exclusion, favouring the elite. It has been a matter of debate, considering even a state like Kerala with highest literacy levels has highly opposed it owing to its discriminatory and contradictory nature. The NEP 2020 painted a rosy picture, but actual implementation of promised infrastructure and technological accessibility among many other things is very limited, and it not only does but will continue to only increase the gap between the rich and poor.

Some critics contend that the NEP borrows heavily from educational practices in the United States without adequately adapting them to India's unique cultural and educational context. This Western bias will fail to address the diverse educational needs of Indian students. Further, the NEP has been perceived as promoting the involvement of the private sector in education, which could lead to increased fees. This is just one of the many ways the economically backward groups are being sidelined.

According to a study, nearly 22 per cent of schools in India, did not have appropriate toilets for girls and 58 per cent of preschools had no toilet at all. (Rapid Survey on Children, 2013-14). According to the same study, 56 per cent of preschools had no water available on the premises. In many rural schools in India, water quality is still a major issue, as many schools do not have adequate water treatment facilities for testing for contaminants like iron, arsenic, or fluoride. If such basic things are unavailable in govt. schools, how and till when will it be practical to have working computers and proper AI setups which the NEP guarantees?

The global education development agenda reflected in the Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by India in 2015 - seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030. This is such a lofty goal, but will it be practically feasible is another question in a country like India, when reservations aren’t even addressed in the policy. Sure, the general category faces undue disadvantage because of various quotas but there are tons of people who actually need these reservations, not to get a head start, but rather to start from the same line as the common public. There are various things the govt. can do here to make sure the aid reaches the people in need and is not lost in corruption, but they choose to turn a blind eye to these issues.

The policy also is very biased towards Hinduism, which contradicts the beliefs of secularism highlighted in our constitution. Yes, connecting with our roots is imperative, but being stuck there is not going to take India anywhere. 

The Nep focuses on involvement of local languages till 8th and further wherever possible, along with focus on multidisciplinary institutions and education on all levels which is not only highly impractical but also very baseless. Shifting the focus totally from science and STEM based subjects while integrating them with arts and humanities is just baseless. Holistic education is justified, but merging fields is only going to mix up subjects and the hold that Indian education system has because of which it is respected across the world will be lost; for it is merely because of such detailed syllabus that we have, that we don’t end up learning that “Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell” for the first time in 10th grade, like various other countries.

The govt wants international students to come to Indian universities, are they making the education system at that level?  Southampten University is to be opened in Delhi NCR, sure this is a step forward, but logically thinking, how are the poor who are anyways unable to afford higher education going to be able to be a part of such elite institutions? Moreover, the language policy which involves regional languages as a compulsory mode of teaching till 8th at least, totally disregards English, which is the universal language actually needed to communicate with international people. International exchanges might now be in picture, but who is actually going to get benefited? A very small fraction of the large population of India, the upper middle class, that is if these proposals ever actually turn to reality. Let’s face it, the very rich don’t need it, and the poor anyways can’t afford it, so who is the policy actually benefitting?

How does the NDA talk about inclusivity if it only favours big shots like Adani everywhere? Why only NCERT syllabus has been cut in the name of NEP while most of the other implementation is like castles in the sky? This will only result in collapse of the current system while the new one hasn’t been implemented.

While the NEP speaks about reducing exam pressure, the national level examinations are turning into frauds, with more and more people wanting to go abroad. Is the NEET scam the govts way of forcing people to humanities fields’ indirectly? Is this their way of honouring dreams? Are such frauds, paper leaks and scams mere coincidences? I think not. Now given the conditions, can you blame the people for brain drain? Once again, no. The fact that people are next to powerless in such situations is the sole reason that the govt. continues to exploit them, while posing to extend a helping hand. Is this nep another one of the all-talks and no-show jokes that BJP has come up with? I believe India and its upcoming generations deserve better.

We only move forward if we move together, and this is precisely why such policies are useless till the time they reach the poorest of the poor. India never had a shortage of hardworking people; given the right resources, the people have amazing calibre and hence it is high time the “inclusivity” highlighted in the NEP actually becomes reality, rather than merely being on paper.

pic from- https://ensureias.com/