National Education Policy evokes mixed reactions among academicians

new National Education Policy evoked mixed reactions among academicians on Wednesday with some hailing it as a "groundbreaking" action plan that promotes holistic and multi-disciplinary learning and ors arguing that it will pave way for privatisation of education.

A single regulator for higher education institutions, multiple entry and exit options in degree courses, discontinuation of M.Phil programmes, low stakes board exams, common entrance exams for universities are among highlights of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 approved by Union Cabinet on Wednesday.

Former Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh, who was an official reviewer of document when it was being formulated, said policy lays down road map pretty nicely.

policy has a good vision for school education, which is foundation for higher education, he said.

"y have talked about experiential learning which is so useful. Unless you improve school education, you cant improve higher education. concept of transciplinarity, hands on experience, breaking down of barriers between subjects and connecting m to society are some of key points in policy. This is best chance of universities to create curricula around challenges of society,” he said.

Elaborating with an example, he said re is a discipline in Mamatics called fluid dynamics but t one student in this country has any idea how to use fluid dynamics and computer science to create fighter jets and y are imported all time.

"At last, we have found a document which at least gives us a chance,” he added.

Singh also said that he has t been extremely enthused about regulators and feel y "are disabling you all time".

"y make you do silly things. y are talking about having a single regulator because orwise things are t working well. I believe it's good. y will need a lot of good people. I am hoping that it will restore automy of varsities. Hopefully y will t prescribe too much,” he said.

Jamia Millia Islamia vice-chancellor Najma Akhtar called NEP "groundbreaking" and said higher education in India will w be holistic and multi-disciplinary with a shared focus on Science, Arts and Humanities.

"A single regulator for all higher educational institutions is a great idea as it will bring coherence of approach and purpose. It will realise vision of education in India,” she added.

approval of new National Education Policy (NEP) by government is a positive step forward, said Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) VC M Jagadesh Kumar.

"NEP is outcome of an extensive, highly participatory and inclusive consultation process. NEP aims at meeting existing challenges in education and build foundation of India''s promising future.We look forward to its implementation,” he added.

Delhi University professor Rahul Yadav welcomed policy, and said it talks about multiple entry and exit options and provides choices to students, and does t put any burden on m. He was also enthused about fact that policy seeks to promote a multi-disciplinary approach and does t seek to restrict students to just humanities or science.

Delhi University professor Naveen Gaur, however, said policy has just "jazzier things" to say and even though it says that Higher Education Commission of India will be a single regulator, it will have four verticals, which means that one vertical will be responsible for policy formulation and ar for funding which is dangerous.

He also said that policy paves way for entry of foreign universities in India, without any regulations, which can be dangerous for education sector. professor argued that policy will take away automy of institutions rar than making m more automous.

Jamia Teachers’ Association secretary Majid Jamil questioned timing of bringing policy.

"At a time when re is coronavirus pandemic, what was need to hurry? policy talks about online learning and virtual labs but re is substitute to face-to-face learning. It also talks about four-year undergraduate programme, something which was implemented in Delhi University, but was met with opposition and was subsequently withdrawn. We do t agree with it," Jamil added.

Delhi University's Academics for Action and Development (AAD), a teachers' body, called NEP a policy of "tall ends with little means''.

For instance, Indian has presently 18 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and NEP sets goal of 50 per cent GER by 2035, it said.

"How can this be achieved -- more than double of GER in next 15 years? NEP is also talking of internationalisation in same vein and will only facilitate entry of foreign universities to tap Indian educational market for ir own benefits. This is a "return of Macaulay" -- building an education system in interest of foreigners and wealthy ones," it said, referring to British officer Thomas Babington Macaulay.

Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) said it was opposed to proposal to hand over every higher educational institution to a Board of Goverrs, which will enjoy all powers hirto vested in governing authorities of colleges and universities as well as UGC and or regulating bodies.

"Automy has been redefined as freedom to optimise. empowerment of BoG hand in hand with redefined automy is in parallel with neo-liberal reforms that deregulated businesses. It amounts to converting/handing over education as a business to corporate houses,” it said.