Why in News?

• A Supreme Court lawyer petitioned the top court to direct the Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal governments to implement the National Education Policy (NEP).
• The plea comes amid a heated debate led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who has accused the Centre of imposing Hindi on the State.

Key Points:

Argument for NEP Implementation:

=> The plea urged Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Centre to implement the NEP.

=> It was argued that these States must act to protect children’s fundamental right to education.

Clarification on Hindi in NEP:

=> The NEP mentions ‘Hindi’ only once and does not mandate its imposition.

=> The policy does not compel State governments to teach Hindi to children.

Constitutional and Legal Considerations:

=> The plea argued that both the Centre and the States have a stake in education, as it falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

=> The petition acknowledged that the Supreme Court cannot directly compel a State to adopt a policy or sign an MoU.

=> However, the court can intervene if the matter affects fundamental rights.

National Education Policy 2020:

About:

• The National Education Policy 2020 seeks to tackle the evolving development needs of India. It calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, including its regulations and management, to establish a modern system that aligns with 21st-century educational goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while respecting India's cultural heritage and values. It replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92).

Salient Features:

Universal Access: NEP 2020 focuses on universal access to school education, including pre-school to secondary levels.

Early Childhood Education: The 10+2 structure will shift to a 5+3+3+4 system, bringing 3-6-year-olds under school curriculum, with a focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

Multilingualism: Mother tongue or regional language will be the medium of instruction till Grade 5, with options for Sanskrit and other languages. Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardized.

Inclusive Education: Special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), support for children with disabilities, and establishment of "Bal Bhavans."

Elimination of Barriers: The policy promotes a seamless education system with no rigid distinctions between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, and vocational and academic streams.

GER Enhancement: Aim to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio from 26.3% to 50% by 2035, adding 3.5 crore new seats.

Research Focus: Creation of National Research Foundation to boost research culture and capacity.

Language Preservation: Support for Indian languages, including an Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) and strengthening language departments.

Internationalization: Facilitation of international collaborations and entry of top-ranked foreign universities.

Funding: Joint efforts to increase public investment in education to 6% of GDP.

PARAKH Assessment Center: The establishment of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) as a national assessment center signifies a significant step towards competency-based and holistic assessment in education.

Gender Inclusion Fund: The policy introduces a Gender Inclusion Fund, emphasizing the importance of gender equality in education and supporting initiatives to empower disadvantaged groups.

Special Education Zones: Special Education Zones are envisioned to address the specific needs of disadvantaged regions and groups, furthering the policy's commitment to equitable access to quality education for all.