Implement Respect for Diversity & Local Context with NEP 2020

In Bharat (India) we have 22 major languages – Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri and 270 mother tongues. This clearly demonstrate our diversity for languages and culture. Ladakhi language, food, weather, and culture are quite different than Tamilnadu. Gujarati’s entrepreneurial passion and Bengali’s hunger for knowledge has done significant contribution in the overall growth of our country.

For policy makers it must be a mammoth task to ensure that all the stakeholders across the country are receiving the desire output. NEP 2020 is being designed carefully to have inclusive growth across different sections of society. In Bharat, more than 25% students drop out from the schools due to lack of interest in the studies. We as a trustee, principal, teacher, and parents need to play our role carefully to ensure success of our students and nation.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 overview

Let’s understand National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in detail. Following are the key principles of NEP 2020

  • Respect for Diversity & Local Context – In all curriculum, pedagogy and policy
  • Equity & Inclusion – As the cornerstone of all educational decisions
  • Community Participation – Encouragement and facilitation for philanthropic, private and community participation.
  • Use of Technology – In teaching and learning, removing language barriers, for Divyang students, and in educational planning and management.
  • Emphasize Conceptual Understanding – Rather than rote learning and learning-for-exams
  • Unique Capabilities – Recognizing, identifying them in each student.
  • Critical thinking and Creativity – To encourage logical decision-making and innovation
  • Continuous Review – Based on sustained research and regular assessment by educational experts.

Each of the above principles need to be implemented across all the schools (Government & Private). “WHAT” part of policy is very clear, now it’s a responsibility of esteemed schools to define “HOW” part for the successful implementation of NEP 2020.

In this blog we’ll cover what to be done to ensure Respect for Diversity & Local Context while implementing NEP 2020.

Universalisation of Access – from ECCE (Early Childhood Care & Education) to Secondary

NEP 2020 is transforming Curricular & Pedagogical Structure by introducing (5+3+3+4): 3 years in Angadwadi/pre-school and 12 years in school

  • In foundational stage (Initial 5years), students will have multilevel, play/activity-based learning.
  • In preparatory stage (3years), they’ll learn through play, discovery and activity-based and interactive classroom training
  • In middle stage (3years), students will have experiential learning in the sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences, and humanities.
  • In secondary stage (final 4years), students will have multidisciplinary study, greater critical thinking, flexibility and student choice of subjects.

Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) Framework

Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) is the most important aspect of any child’s growth.

National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Education (NCPFECE) will be drafted by NCERT. NCPFECE will be aligned with the latest research on ECCE, and national and international best practices. To create interest among students’ pedagogy is comprising of alphabets, languages, numbers, counting, colours, shapes, indoor and outdoor play, puzzles, and logical thinking, problem-solving, drawing, painting and other visual art, craft, drama and puppetry, music, and movement. A 3-month play-based ‘school preparation module’ for all Grade 1 students to be developed by NCERT

Early Childhood Education: Learning in the Formative Years

To ensure Respect for Diversity & Local Context while implementing NEP 2020, we need to inculcate following skills in our students

  • Developing curiosity
  • Logical thinking & problem solving
  • Arts, crafts, and Music
  • Relationship with Nature
  • Colours, Shapes, Alphabets & Numbers
  • Teamwork & Collaboration
  • Play-based & Discovery-based learning
  • Ethics
  • Self-Identity
  • Etiquette, Behaviour and Emotional Development

Attainment of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by Grade 3 in Mission mode

It’s critical for every student to read & write by grade 3. Once they miss this, it’s become too difficult for them to cope up with language and mathematical concepts. Hence schools are expected to provide early learning contents in reading & video formats to ensure students are building their foundation for literacy and numeracy.

Reduction in Curriculum

NEP 2020 is focusing on Core Essentials, Critical Thinking, Interactive Classes and Experiential learning. And it’s very much possible through EdTech solutions. Curriculum and pedagogy to be transformed by 2022 to promote skill based and minimize rote based learning. Student’s interest can be created and grow if we are able to clear their concepts. To make this happen we need to implement best in class technology solution to monitor, measure and analyse overall growth of students and teachers.

Mental and Physical Health and Well-Being

To ensure mental and physical health & well-being, we need to have annual health check of our students. Reduce weight of school bags which can be done immediately with good EdTech solution. We need to put all our effort to focus on children with disability. Across the globe we have 1Bn+ people with disability hence we need to build solid eco-system to take care of them.

Multilingualism and the Power of Language Learning

If you visit any most advanced APAC countries like Japan, South Korea & Taiwan, you’ll find that they have given importance to their local language. And this has helped them to improve per capita income of their citizens. I have studied in Hindi medium till 10th grade and suddenly जल became the water. Still, I remember my struggle of learning English while clearing engineering concepts. NEP 2020 is promoting home language/ mother-tongue/ local language medium of instruction until grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.

Build system to understand teaching & learning strength and gaps

If 28% population of our country is under 14 years of age, then we need to do all our level best to implement scientific system to understand teaching & learning strength and gaps on daily basis. Teaching and learning are happening every day so monitoring, measurement and analysis should also happen on periodic basis.

Manually we can’t track the progress of how we are implementing respect for diversity & local context? If we provide them periodic feedback in structured format then it’ll surely help them to better their teaching and learning plans.

In conclusion, if we integrate implementation of NEP 2020 with technology then adoption will increase significantly to get the desire outcome.

Implement NEP 2020 in your educational institute with LearnQoch.