The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to revamp the education system from school to college level. There have been mixed reactions from academics on new education policy. Academicians and teachers opined that there are several positive points in new education policy, but some points are doubtful in implementation.

Ranchi University former Vice Chancellor VP Sharan said, “The biggest feature of new education policy is that it has been framed keeping students in mind. There are varied options for students.

A student studying Science can pursue his passion in arts and music by taking a diploma or certificate course in that particular subject.”

Sharan claimed that the new education policy introduced by the Modi government is like old wine in a new bottle. He said, “We have studied in the same pattern around four decades back, now the old system has been reintroduced.” He said that the new policy is good as it has given focus on foundational learning; the issue of learning deficiency will be addressed.

However, Sharan pointed out that having a common entrance system for admission in higher educational institutions is not feasible as a lot of problems and issues will be raised in having common entrance tests for central universities, state universities and deemed universities.

Echoing the views of Sharan, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University Ranchi nodal officer Dr Indra Nath Sahu said, “The new education policy has been framed keeping students in mind. They will get an option to study vocational studies from school time.”

Sahu claimed that another feature of new education policy is that it will save years of education if students pursue vocational studies. He claimed, “If a student wants to study B.Ed after Class XI education then he can directly take admission in B.Ed course. There is no need to study BA/BSc or B.Com. This will save two years of his education.”

Jharkhand Parents Association president Ajay Rai said, “The new education policy will fulfill the aspiration for Indianisation of education pending for years. The new policy will prove to be effective in reflecting the progressive ideas like 'education for life, for life'. The new education policy emphasizes vocational courses, which is a welcome step.”

As the new education policy has made changes in school education too, teachers have welcomed this too. Anita Singh a school teacher at St. Francis School said, “As per new education policy primary education change in pedagogical structure of 10+2 system to 5+3+3+4 is good. It means that five years (Nursery to Class II) of education in schools will now come under the Montessori section, which is good as this is the learning period for kids. The policy also says the board will encourage knowledge application rather than rote, which is also a welcome step.”

Amit Khare, Higher Education Secretary, said it was a historic day and the country has got a New Education Policy (NEP) after 34 years. He said that the NEP will have a major impact on access, equity and quality, all three of them. One, the universalisation of school education will be up to Class 12. More than two crore children will be brought back to school. In higher education, access will be improved.

The GER (gross enrolment ratio) will be raised from 26 per cent to 50 per cent which would mean another 3.5 crore seats. Multidisciplinary colleges including vacation and general education will improve the quality of learning.

The new education police came after three decades. It took more than six years of deliberation for the Narendra Modi government to introduce the new education policy. This is the third NEP after policies that came in 1968, and 1986. Though the government amended the 1986 policy in 1992, it was largely the same.