by Placida deSequeira Nazareth for BISMumbai

The National Education Policy (NEP)2020, approved by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July 2020, replaces the previous Education Policy of 1986, giving a comprehensive framework of India’s Education System. The Policy rests upon expert opinions, field experiences, empirical research of varied kind, stakeholders' feedback and lessons learned from best practices, in order to create an inclusive, participatory and holistic approach in the formation of the child.

St. Joseph’s High School, Wadala, took time out to update themselves about the new policy, which is proposed to become a full-fledged system across different levels of Education by 2030. Led by Head Mistress and Principal Sangita Bhattacharya, a team of teachers studied the Policy and disseminated the same, to the management and the staff.

The Policy for School Education primarily focuses on the Universalization of Education, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Vocational Education with Internship, 360 degree Holistic progress card, importance of Mother tongue and Regional languages, Use of Artificial Intelligence, Training of the teachers, etc. Besides the mentioned salient features, the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure, will include the age group of 3-6 years, which will be brought under the School Curriculum, as this period is globally recognized as the crucial stage in the development of a child.

The educational institutions and the think tank across India are hopeful of a more refined system, to harness and channelize the Human Resource of the country, in a more scientific and systematic way. Let us hope that the paradigm shift will open up new avenues in the field of memory enhancement, financial education, critical thinking, sense of wonder, imagination, practical relevance, music and art of various forms, becoming part of the mainstream educational system. The words of Albert Einstein stand as a guiding attitude for the authorities, who would design the curriculum - "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid".St. Joseph's believes that the small steps of today, augmented with innovation and research in the field of education, wil make India a super power in the near future.