A lecture on ‘School Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy (NEP 2020)’ was delivered by Dr. Gopal Krishna Thakur - Head - Department of Education - Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University). Dr. Alka Muddgal welcomed the guest speaker and shared how NEP 2020 has focused on restructuring of school education and on the holistic development of students that can be achieved by working together.
Dr. Thakur averred that the topic has been discussed on various platforms ever since the NEP policy document was released by Ministry of Education. He added that discussions revolved around the way ahead and the concerns regarding translating the policy into action. He shared that the major concern is that how this draft is very ambitious, posing loads of responsibilities on everyone. He said that the policy aims to develop a deep-rooted pride in being an Indian in thought, spirit & intellect. He stated that Neuroscientific research states that before the child attains the age of 6 years, their brains develop almost 85% of its capacity and that wasn’t taken seriously into the scheme of education for the masses covered by the Government School of Education. Dr. Thakur averred that NEP considered this aspect and added early childhood education care into initiating action into the new mode of schooling. He stated that the aim of the new system is to have education through experience and not just by rote learning.
Stating the difference from the existing system, he added that a catalytic change would be to change the examination system & how the entire education system was deeply inclined towards attaining marks/grades. He said that the undercurrent is still on marks or scores and until these changes, any brightest of the policies would not be successful. He also shared about the Academic Bank of Credits, more applicable to the HE system, that allows students to study subject combinations of their choice. He called for ensuring assimilation of learning, values and skills in the students to fulfil the path shown by NEP. He stressed on having an updated national level curriculum framework for early childhood care & education in tune with the recent trends, demand & gaps and further focus on implementing it too. He also stated for aligning the curriculum as per the NEP requirements. Dr. Thakur averred that there was a need for complete overhauling of the education system, have real-life examples of problems and solutions and be rational in evaluation.