The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been formulated by the Government of India with the objective of resolving critical issues in the Indian education system, including creating mechanisms for career counseling in schools towards identifying student interests and talents. Ganesh Kohli, Founder (International Career and College Counseling) IC3 Movement shares his thoughts on NEP 2020 and says this policy outlines the integral role of teachers in shaping the progress of the students and the education system.

It calls for teacher training, in order to provide students with valuable information on their strengths, areas of interest, and needed areas of focus, and thereby help them make optimal career choices.With these reforms, there is a ray of hope for a transformed education system with teachers at the heart of it.Teachers are instrumental in building a student’s professional as well as personal growth trajectory. Schools are only the beginning of a student’s journey, and have to set the student up for success and a happy, productive life by building the right skills and providing guidance and direction.

Each student needs personalized attention and direction to take informed decisions for themselves. With students spending a considerable amount of time with their subject teachers, it becomes essential to provide every teacher with the skills and means to affect a positive impact in a student’s life.

Through the NEP, the Indian government has devised new policies encouraging teachers to become equipped with futuristic teaching skills. The policy focuses on training teachers to become career counselors. Along with having a dedicated career counseling cell in every school, if every teacher is trained to become a 10% career counselor, there is magic waiting to happen in every classroom.