Why in news?

Five years after its launch, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has led to notable changes in classrooms, especially in early schooling.

However, much of its ambitious vision for overhauling school and higher education remains unfulfilled. Delays caused by Centre-state disagreements and institutional bottlenecks have slowed implementation across the country.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Five Years of NEP 2020: Key Gains and Early Implementation
• NEP 2020: Key Reforms Still in Progress
• NEP 2020: Key Sticking Points and Roadblocks

Five Years of NEP 2020: Key Gains and Early Implementation

• The NEP 2020 aimed to transform India’s education system. While complete implementation is ongoing, key reforms have begun to take root.
• Shift in School Structure and Curriculum
  • The traditional 10+2 structure has been replaced by a 5+3+3+4 system: foundational (pre-primary to class 2); preparatory (classes 3–5); middle (6–8), and secondary (9–12).
  • The 2023 National Curriculum Framework laid out outcomes for each stage.
  • NCERT released new textbooks (classes 1–8), merging subjects like history and geography into single volumes. Books for classes 9–12 are awaited.
• Early Childhood Education Gets a Boost
  • NEP aims for universal pre-primary education by 2030. NCERT’s Jaadui Pitara kits and a national ECCE curriculum are now in use.
  • Delhi, Karnataka, and Kerala are enforcing a minimum age of six for class 1, improving readiness but reducing enrolments.
  • However, better Anganwadi training and infrastructure are still needed.
• Foundational Learning Under NIPUN Bharat
  • Launched in 2021, NIPUN Bharat targets literacy and numeracy by class 3.
  • A recent survey shows 64% average language proficiency and 60% in math—progress, but still below universal goals.
• Credit-Based Flexibility Introduced
  • To allow flexibility in higher education, the NEP introduced the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
  • Learners can exit after one, two, or four years with a certificate, diploma, or degree. CBSE is piloting this credit model in schools as well.
• CUET for Uniform College Admissions
  • The CUET, launched in 2022, standardizes college admissions nationwide, reducing the need for multiple entrance exams, in line with NEP's goals.
• Expanding Global Footprint of Indian Campuses
  • Institutes like IIT Madras (Zanzibar), IIT Delhi (Abu Dhabi), and IIM Ahmedabad (Dubai) have set up global campuses.
  • Meanwhile, international universities, including the University of Southampton, are entering India, with 12 more awaiting approval.

NEP 2020: Key Reforms Still in Progress

• While several aspects of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 have seen implementation, others are still evolving.
• These reforms aim to reduce academic pressure, promote flexibility, and encourage inclusive, student-centric learning environments.
• Reimagining Board Exams
  • To lower the pressure of high-stakes assessments, the NEP proposes flexible board exams.
  • Starting 2026, CBSE will allow class 10 students to appear for board exams twice a year.
  • Karnataka has already piloted this idea. Other education boards are cautiously observing these changes before implementing them.
  • Additionally, the NEP encourages offering all subjects at two levels (standard and higher), but this has only been implemented for mathematics in class 10 by CBSE since 2019-20.
• Progress Cards with a Holistic Approach
  • NCERT’s PARAKH unit developed new-style report cards including peer and self-assessments. However, most boards have not adopted this approach yet.
• Slow Rollout of Four-Year Undergraduate Degrees
  • The NEP promotes four-year undergraduate programs with flexible exit options after each year.
  • While central universities and the state of Kerala have begun implementation, progress is slow in other regions due to faculty shortages and inadequate infrastructure in many colleges.
• Emphasis on Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction
  • NEP recommends teaching students in their mother tongue at least until class 5 to enhance comprehension and cognitive growth.
  • CBSE has directed affiliated schools to implement this from pre-primary to class 2, with flexibility for classes 3–5.
  • Meanwhile, NCERT is developing textbooks in more Indian languages to support this multilingual shift.

NEP 2020: Key Sticking Points and Roadblocks

• Despite several successes, critical components of the NEP 2020 remain stalled due to political resistance, institutional inertia, and lack of consensus.
• These bottlenecks reflect deep structural and federal challenges in India’s education landscape.
• Resistance to the Three-Language Formula
  • NEP's proposal for students to learn three languages, at least two of which must be Indian, has been met with strong opposition.
  • Tamil Nadu, which follows a Tamil-English model, views the move as a covert attempt to impose Hindi and has rejected the proposal outright.
• Delays in Teacher Education Reforms
  • The overhaul of teacher training is yet to materialize. The National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, expected in 2021, has not been released.
  • Although a four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) has been proposed, existing teacher education colleges offering B.El.Ed. (Bachelor of Elementary Education) have resisted the changes, stalling reform.
• Delay in Higher Education Regulatory Reform
  • The NEP envisages replacing the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), a single regulator for funding, accreditation, standards, and regulation.
  • Despite being formalized in the policy, the Education Ministry is still working on drafting the HECI bill, leaving the proposed transformation in limbo.
• No Breakfast Scheme in Schools
  • NEP recommends providing breakfast in addition to midday meals for students in pre-primary and elementary classes.
  • However, the Finance Ministry rejected this proposal in 2021, citing budgetary constraints, stalling its rollout despite the potential nutritional benefits.
• Centre–State Frictions Over NEP Implementation
  • States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have declined to adopt NEP-linked PM-SHRI schools.
  • The Centre withheld Samagra Shiksha funds in response. Tamil Nadu challenged the move in the Supreme Court.
• Karnataka's Changing Position
  • Karnataka initially adopted the four-year undergraduate degree model proposed under NEP but later scrapped it.
  • The current government is working on a state-specific education policy as per its 2023 election promise.