The Draft National Education Policy, 2020 is here.. How will the reforms in the Higher Education System shape the future of youths in our country? This article gives an insight into the 6 major changes the Higher Education System in India will witness.
The flaws in the Higher Education System are not hidden. It became important to restructure every part of the Higher Education System to make it more accessible, inclusive, comprehensive, and economic as well.
Let’s look at the benefits of the changes made in the Higher Education System under the National Education policy, 2020.
1. Exhaustive Colleges and Universities
Multidisciplinary and holistic approach instead of rote learning ensures social, intellectual, emotional, and moral development. In Higher Education, integral knowledge will help students to become well informed and responsible citizens.
The application of skills needed in the practical world demands high thinking ability. This could be a game-changer for the education system.
2. Autonomy of HEIs
With the setting up of The Higher Education Commission of India(HECI), under which there are four structures:
- National Higher Education Regulatory Council(NHERC)
- National Accreditation Council(NAC)
- Higher Education Grants Council(HEGC)
- General Education Council(GEC)
This framework will ensure effective learning and transparency in HEIs.
3. Integrated Assessment
The evaluation based on criterion grading on learning outcomes, alleviates the burden of examination.
The Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) will allow knowledge seekers, selection of course, making learning broad and comprehensive.
4. Adjustable Duration of Degrees
The degrees have become flexible in nature, with 3 or 4-years of undergraduate course, 2-years of Master’s Degree with many exit options at different levels.
You get the leverage of joining a particular job at any point of time as per need.
5. National Research Foundation
With NRF, a culture of research and innovation comes into light. The research funded by the government helps to form a community of researchers. It will pave a way for scientific and technological development.
The impetus to scientific temper, innovation in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture is likely.
6. Restructured Vocational Education
Only 5% of people (aged 19-24 yrs) received formal vocational education in India, which is much inferior to countries like the U.S.A and Germany.
The shifted focus from only core learning to vocational education will increase the rate of employment in graduates. It increases the potential of students, not bright in academics, of getting a job.
In a nutshell, Education is enlisted in the Concurrent list of the constitution thus, it requires coordination and cooperation of both union and state governments.
The face of India’s Higher Education can change with the new Education policy. The strict adherence to the reforms will reaffirm the 4th SDG goal of quality education. A dedicated Higher Education System will meet India’s ambition of inclusive and fair education to all.