Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 31: Director J&K Innovative Foundation for Transforming Society (JKIFTS), Dr Tasaduk Hussain Itoo today said that New Education Policy-2020 passed by the Union Cabinet recently is more innovative, inclusive and comprehensive.
He said that various domains of the NEP envisage and address some core issues of school and higher education system that were lacking in the previously education policies drafted in 1968 and 1986 (amended in 1992).
He said that NEP 2020 proposes gross changes including opening up of Indian higher education to foreign universities, dismantling of the UGC and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), introduction of a four-year multidisciplinary undergraduate programme with multiple exit options, and discontinuation of the M Phil programme.
In school education, the policy focuses on overhauling the curriculum, “easier” Board exams, a reduction in the syllabus to retain “core essentials” and thrust on “experiential learning and critical thinking”
Itoo said the policy focuses more on practical aspects of learning than rote learning, which is an innovative step in transforming the education system.
“Inviting foreign players into educational set up and focusing and investing more on research based work- the policy would surely help in creating vibrant school and higher education system,” he said.
He also said that policy would create conductive environment for social transformation and creation of multiple job sectors through education by adopting a multidisciplinary approach in all institutions.
“The policy would help in cultural development through the introduction of mother language into school curriculum up to 5th standard”, Itoo maintained adding that the policy will prove to be more productive for a students’ career progression.
He further said that the reduction in the syllabus with retaining of the core and crucial areas of learning in a subject will decrease the burden on students and consequently increase the quality of learning.