By Asha Sharma
Principal
Indian Learners’ Own Academy, Kuwait
New 15-year, 5 (3+2+3+3+4) program of Indian Education System
Vision statement
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) envisions an India-centric education system that contributes directly to transforming our nation sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high-quality education to all.
The new education policy has increased one year of schooling for children. Schools will have to take the 3+ age group of children into their folds. Earlier this age group had been kept away from schools and in many places ‘anganwadis’ or ‘preparatory schools’ were functioning in their place. But now the charge has been given to affiliated or recognized schools to look after and channelize education for even 3+ children.
The new five-tier system of education is as follows:
3+, 4+ and 5+ years of age= Kindergarten ( 3 years pre-primary)
6+ and 7+ years of age = classes 1 and 2 (2 years lower primary)
8+, 9+ and 10+ years of age = classes 3, 4 and 5 (3 years upper primary)
11+,12+ and 13+ years of age = classes 6, 7 and 8 (3 years middle)
14+,15+,16+ and 17+ years of age = classes 9,10,11 and 12(4 years secondary)
As per the recommendation there will be checkpoints at the end of class 3, 5 and 8 on national scale. All the students will face a national examination to check the quality of education rendered and uniformity in educational standards throughout India after class 3, 5 and 8. It will be like any international examination. This exam will not be declaring pass or fail results for any student.
New Education policy decided to implement national exams because of the shockingly poor performance of Indian students in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests. The PISA test is an international assessment that measures reading, mathematics, and science literacy every three years. First conducted in 2000 the PISA test also includes measures of general or cross-curricular competencies, such as collaborative problem solving. PISA emphasizes functional skills that students have acquired as they near the end of compulsory schooling. PISA is coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of industrialized countries. In India unfortunately, there is too much of variance in educational standards of various educational boards and among the schools registered under each board. The NEP 2020 aims to bring uniformity in education throughout India.
Why should schools look after 3+ children?
It has been scientifically proven that children’s brains develop the most from birth till 7 years of age. The brain of the child is like wet clay which can be molded easily and has capacity to absorb the maximum
At birth, a baby’s brain has 100 billion neurons or brain cells. By the age of two or three, each neuron is able to build around 2,500 synapses, or connections between brain cells. Scientists believe that language is acquired most easily within the first 7 years of age. A repeated exposure of words forms a circuit in the brain. Language develops through casual conversation, storytelling, songs, rhymes, reading, music and through many more activities. Love and care of adults stimulates the brain of the child. And if at this tender age children are not looked after properly by experts much harm can be done. Children with positive and strong emotional bonds grow better which can be ensured by trained teachers. For this reason, a special four-year training course has been devised for early education teachers.
The NEP 2020 begins by viewing early childhood care and education (ECCE) as an essential part of the foundational stage of school education (three years of pre-primary education plus Grades 1 and 2 of lower primary). This single curricular and pedagogical phase of play- and discovery-based learning is for very young children between the ages of 3-8 years.The flexibility in the first five years will enable equalizing of the multiple cognitive abilities of children.
This is followed by an Upper Primary phase consisting of three years (Grades 3, 4 and 5) of basic education incorporating some textbooks as well as aspects of more formal classroom learning. The next three years of Middle school education (Grades 6, 7 and 8) would involve developing more abstract thinking and subject teaching leading up to a Secondary education phase of four years (Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12). This last phase of four years of secondary school education will facilitate multidisciplinary studies with appropriate exit options besides preparing for the next phase of undergraduate program of study, including early introduction to Liberal Arts education.
“We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now, is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him, we cannot answer ‘Tomorrow’. His name is ‘Today’.”
– Gabriela Mistral, Nobel Prize recipient
The self-explanatory observation of Gabriela, the Chilean poet laureate and educationist almost seven decades ago is still relevant today. 21st-century children need an education that aims at their holistic development and caters to their academic, physical, social, psychological, and emotional evolution. They also need a home away from home, a nest that represents love, growth, safety, possibilities, opportunities, skills and potential that enable them to venture into new horizons with confidence.
A well-designed goal, supported by an achievable vision, a mission that encourages each child to achieve livelihood and life skills that equip him or her for facing the future competently and confidently is needed. A plan that takes care of students of all age groups is required to develop skills that translate knowledge, understanding, attitude and values so that they are able to cope with the positive and negative events in their lives.
Next feature on the New Education Policy will throw light on early childhood care and education which is the foundation of learning.