NEP 2020: SCHOOL EDUCATION | Effective resourcing and effective governance

The NEP 2020 has reconfigured the curriculum and pedagogy of school education to 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 design with an aim to make them responsive and relevant to the developmental needs and interests of learners at different stages of their development. However, it will not be necessary to make any parallel changes to the physical infrastructure. The policy aims at producing engaged, productive, and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by our Constitution.

Effective resourcing and effective governance

1. The National Assessment Centre for School Education (NACSE) shall be a standard setting Body under the Ministry of Education (MoE), to fulfil the basic objectives of setting norms, standards and guidelines for assessment and evaluation for all recognised school boards of India, guiding the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertaking the National Achievement Survey (NAS), monitoring achievement of learning outcomes in the country. This Centre will also advise the school boards regarding new assessment patterns and latest researches, promote collaborations between the school boards, and become an instrument for sharing of best practices between school boards, etc

2. The principles for university entrance exams will be similar; the National Testing Agency (NTA) will work to offer high-quality common aptitude test, as well as specialised common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects, at least twice every year. The exams shall test conceptual understanding and abilities to apply knowledge, and shall aim to eliminate the need for taking coaching for these exams. The NTA will serve as a premier, expert, autonomous testing organisation to conduct entrance examinations for undergraduate and graduate admissions and fellowships in higher educational institutions.

3. Every student has innate talents, which must be discovered, nurtured, fostered, and developed. These talents may express themselves in the form of varying interests, dispositions, and capacities. The NCERT and NCFTE will develop guidelines for the education of gifted children. B.Ed. programs may also allow specialization in the education of gifted children.