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he PM in his address to the Nation on NEP-2020 has stated that the focus of NEP-1986/92 was on “What to think” whereas the focus on NEP-2020 under Modi Administration would be on “How to think”. NEP-2020 Provides a switch to on-off thinking and also a regulator to high and low the speed of thinking in terms of that, of course NEP-2020 is an effective tool to reform and transform the system of Education in the country.

The Indian Constitution provides three list i.e. Union, State and Concurrent.Education comes under concurrent list meant law on education can be framed by both state and centre but in case of any dispute the centre law will prevail.On NEP-2020 neither law was framed nor the policy was laid on the table of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. NEP-2020 was approved by the Modi Cabinet on 29.07.2020. NEP-2020 is a document of advisories to the states and education institutions, it’s too flexible and accommodative therefore, non-BJP ruled states will not find any political difficulties to executive NEP-2020 advisories.

NEP-1986/92 provided 10+2 structure of schooling and three years under graduate, two years post graduate, one year M.Phil and three years Ph.D system of higher education.NEP-1986/92 focus was on access and equity. Whereas NEP-2020 focused on quality and integration. The rigidity of NEP-1986/92 has removed  in NEP-2020 through flexible and accommodative approach.

NEP-2020 provides 5+3+3+4 systems of schooling i.e. major modification. Under NEP-1986/92 schooling was of 12 years from classes 1 to 12 divided into Primary (1-5) upper primary (6-8), secondary (9-10) and senior or higher secondary (11-12) and schooling was uniform up to class 10 and after 10 there was diversification into streams i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce and Vocational. NEP-1986/92 did not recognize pre-primary or K.G or montesary or Nursery which was operational in large cities and metros in informal sector.

NEP-2020 has recognized pre-primary schooling also proposed 18 years of school education with much flexibility in curriculum and examination. Kids will enter at 3 years of age and complete their foundational schooling in 8 years of age, foundation schooling has a unique feature i.e. 3 years pre-primary and 1 & 2 classes of primary schooling where it is expected that school will prepare students in basic literary and numeracy and make them ready for preparatory schooling where they will enter at the age of 9 and will exist at the age of 11 years after competing preparatory schooling students will enter in middle schooling at the age of 12 years in class 6 and will exit at the age of 14 years after completing 3 classes of middle schooling i.e. classes 6,7, & 8. After completing class 8 in the age of 14 yeas students will enter in class 9 and will complete 4 years schooling i.e. classes 9,10,11 & 12 named secondary schooling, in NEP -1986/92 it was divided into two parts i.e. secondary (9-10)  and higher or senior secondary i.e. (11-12).

The earlier system of streaming the schooling has removed in new policy frame work. Now under NEP-2020 there will not be streaming of school education. After completing middle schooling students will be provided a list of subjects from all the streams and students can choose as they desire to study. A scheme of combinations of subjects in secondary classes will be prepared by the NCERT in consultations with CBSE and SCERTs. The system of assessment has also made flexible, now schools will hold annual examinations in classes 3, 5, 8 and boards in 10th and 12th as convenient to students and scheme of examinations will have objective and descriptive set of questions to assess application of knowledge in day today life by the students. The new system under NEP-2020 has proposed to execute from 2022-23 in Foundational and Preparatory schooling and by 2024-25 in secondary schooling, overall. It has been expecting from NEP-2020 that it will reform and transform schooling system in India will make it productive and qualitative as focus of education system has shifted from rote learning to competence based learning and application of knowledge acquired through learning in class rooms in day today life to face real life challenges.