Read Part 1 Education and History Shape he Nation’s Future

Languages

Medium of instruction until Class 5 and preferably beyond should be in mother-tongue and regional languages. Sanskrit and foreign languages given emphasis. No language imposed.

A language strategy would be released in the National Curriculum Framework in 2021.

School Education

•             The “10 + 2” structure shall be replaced with “5+3+3+4”.

•             Instead of exams every academic year, only three exams, in Classes 3, 5 and 8.

•             Re-designed Board exams, with objective and descriptive parts, continue for Classes 10 and 12. These would be conducted twice a year, with two attempts to qualify.

•             Reduction in curriculum load, allowing students to be “inter-disciplinary” and “multi-lingual”, ie, opting fashion-design with physics, or bakery with chemistry. “Holistic” Report cards with report on students’ skills.

•             Coding will be introduced from Class 6 and experiential learning will be adopted.

•             Midday-Meal Scheme extended to include breakfast.

•             Focus on students’ health and mental health, through counsellors/ social workers.

Higher Education

•             Proposes multi-disciplinary bachelor’s degrees with multiple exit options.

•             M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) courses are to be discontinued to align with Western models.

•             A Higher Education Council of India (HECI) to regulate higher education. It will have three verticals:

•             National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC), to regulate higher education, except medical and legal, and teacher education.

•             National Accreditation Council (NAC), a meta-accrediting body.

•             Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC), for financing of universities and colleges. These will replace the existing National Council for Teacher Education, All India Council for Technical Education and the University Grants Commission.

•             National Testing Agency for conducting JEE Main, NEET and entrance examinations for universities across India.

•             Higher education institutes like IITs and IIMs to incorporate diversity of learning.

•             To internationalize education in India. Foreign universities can set up campuses in India.

•             Tuition fees of private and public universities shall be fixed.

Teacher Education

NEP 2020 makes many changes to teachers and teachers’ education. 4-year Bachelor of Education shall be the minimum requirement for teachers by 2030. Teacher recruitment will be strengthened and made transparent. NAC will frame a National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education by 2021 and National Professional Standards for Teachers by 2022. It ensures students are taught by passionate, qualified, trained and well-equipped teachers.

Other Developments

Under NEP 2020, new educational institutes, bodies and concepts have been formed:

•             National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy National Education Commission, headed by the Prime Minister .

•             Academic Bank of Credit, a digital credits storage to resume further education.

•             National Research Foundation, to improve research and innovation.

•             Special Education Zones, to focus on education in disadvantaged regions.

•             Gender Inclusion Fund, for education of female and trans-gender children.

•             National Educational Technology Forum, to facilitate technology to improve learning.

•             Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation.

•             National Institutes for Pali, Persian and Prakrit.

•             National Mission for Mentoring.

•             National Book Promotion Policy.

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Education is a National Security Imperative

“National Security” includes keeping the country safe from intruders by maintaining a strong military, and following a sound national security policy, foreign and economic policy. High-grade education should also be included in the list. Without proper education, the nation’s status in the world, economic future and physical safety are at risk.

To defend the nation in an unsettled world, it needs each generation to be successful, healthy and productive. As a former selector at the Services Selection Board, I am aware that our armed forces are increasingly concerned that an adequately qualified pool of candidates is not coming forward to join the forces in officers’ ranks.

In the civil world, young men and women suffering from lack of education, good health, upbringing makes them prone to committing crimes and drug abuse.

Early years have a significant impact on educational attainment, behaviour and health. High-quality early education helps vulnerable children succeed in school, become law-abiding citizens and open the doors for many career paths. It builds a good foundation for the next generation to develop in mind, body, and character, so they can succeed in the career they choose.

The relationship among education, national security and radicalization is inextricably linked. How is education tied to terrorism and national security? When children in refugee camps or in deprived situations see themselves with no future, no possibility to improve their lives peacefully, extremist narratives catch hold, and the process of radicalization begins.

Importance of education of girls can be explained this way. When girls are educated, they are more likely to delay marriage. Their future children, hence, are more likely to be healthy and better nourished, which in turn, strengthens the security of their family. National growth also gets a boost. Child marriage, underage mothers are part of challenges to national security.

Here are some statistics worth noting. India’s literacy rate is at 74.04% (2011 Census). Kerala has achieved a literacy rate of 93.91%. Bihar is the least literate state in India, with a literacy of 63.82%. In terms of human capital India stands at 103 out of 130 countries (WEF Human Capital Report, 2017). India’s Education Index was 145 out of 191 (United Nations, 2013).

According to the Government of India Educational Statistics Report, 2018, Government elementary schools had a shortfall of 9.08 lakh teachers against a sanctioned strength of 51.8 lakhs.

Dropping out of students has huge financial ramifications affecting labour market, economic performance and social progress of a country. One reason is that schools have not been providing educational and vocational counselling to their students. Ensuring access to educational opportunities will strengthen and grow the economy, drive technological advancement and innovation across every industry, and allow citizens to overcome socioeconomic challenges that are influenced by education inequality.

Future national security depends on the investment the nation makes in the education of its young citizens. Students of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are tomorrow’s cyber security experts, physicians and scientists who will develop strategies, treatments and technology solutions for development.                                    Chief Editor