THE NEW EDUCATION POLICY

Light of Truth

Ponmala

Although the New Education Policy received a warm reception initially even from the government’s critics, deeper scrutiny has brought out its pros and cons. The policy is a mix of both progressive and regressive steps. It “proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the educational structure, including its regulation and governance.” It starts off saying, “Providing universal access to quality education is the key to economic growth, social justice and equality, scientific advancement, national integration and cultural preservation; and for India’s continued ascent, progress, and leadership on the global stage.” Herein you find all the key elements of the policy.
On the brighter side, the NEP aims to achieve full human potential by shifting the focus of education from learning by rote to understanding concepts and their practical applications: “Education must thus move to less content, and more towards learning about how to solve problems, how to be creative and multi-disciplinary, and how to innovate, adapt, and absorb new material in novel and changing fields.” The new policy also aims at flexibility in choice of subjects, holistic education (across the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and sports), creative and critical thinking, learning life skills and a 5 (3 years of preschool + Grades 1-2) + 3 (Grades 3-5) + 3 (Grades 6-8) +4 (Grades 9-12) design. All would agree these are forward looking proposals.
The policy document also contains two very controversial proposals. One of them is compulsory education in the mother tongue. The policy states: “It is well-understood that young children learn and grasp non-trivial concepts more quickly in their home language/mother tongue. Wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till grade 8 and beyond, will be the home language/mother-tongue/local language.” This is indirectly aimed at laying the axe at English medium schools and colleges. Amit Shah said on 14 September 2019, “I think multiple languages, multiple dialects are our strengths, but there is a need for one national language because of which the foreign languages will not get any place. Keeping this in mind, our ancestors, our freedom fighters envisaged a ‘Rajbhasha’ and accepted Hindi as ‘Rajbhasha’.” Which makes one suspect the NEP seeks to surreptitiously impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states.
With its huge diversity, India needs a neutral language that can knit the nation together. English fits the bill best. It guarantees upward mobility in terms of employment both in the whole of India and in the rest of the world. It is in the choice of medium of instruction that flexibility is needed most. Parents should have the option to send children to English medium schools that compulsorily teach local languages also. Imposing Hindi as ‘Rajbhasha’ will not only be resisted by many but will also bring to a halt the nationwide migration of people in search of white-collar employment. Transferable jobs will pose a problem, because shifting children from schools of one state to another will become a nightmare: A child who studies in Tamil medium school till class 2 will have to continue its studies in say Telugu medium.
Compulsory education in local languages will aggravate parochial feelings, because it will force people to remain confined to their own states. Consequently, the sons-of-the soil theory will move up a few notches: With an eye on votes, regional political parties will clamour for ‘jobs only for those who studied in the vernacular medium,’ both in the government and in the private sector.
A centralised education system that promotes the Sangh Parivar’s ‘precious heritage’ could very will take us back to the mythological age. Our children may have to learn that we have a civilisation that is 20,000 years old (as claimed in a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court praying for the deletion of the word ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the preamble of the Indian Constitution) although modern civilisation is only 6000 years old. They may also have to learn that aeroplanes, missiles and plastic surgery were all inventions of ancient India. There is no limit to the unscientific things that could be taught in the name of Indian heritage. We are already having a taste of it through the public statements of die-hard Hindutva protagonists. As presently conceived, the NEP could be used as a vehicle to spread Hindi and Hindutva all over India. The fear is that, rather than unite the country, it will tear it apart. The policy also reiterates the decades-old proposal to set aside 6% of GDP for education. That is easier said than done.

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