Govt plans ‘tech-savvy’ additions to National Education Policy to adapt it to Covid reality

Representational image of college students in India | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: Almost a year after the draft of the new National Education Policy (NEP) was submitted to the Modi government by an expert committee, it is now all set to undergo changes that will make it more technology-oriented to address the challenges thrown up at the education sector by the Covid pandemic, ThePrint has learnt.

Sources in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) confirmed to ThePrint that the additions to make the education policy more “technology-oriented” are being made as it is the need of the hour. 

“The policy is being made more technology-oriented to suit the need of the hour,” said a ministry source. 

He said the additions will, however, not delay the policy any further. “The (HRD) minister has already announced that the draft of the policy is almost ready and will be sent for approval as soon as possible,” he added. 

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had Thursday, during a live interaction with higher education institutions across the country, said the “draft of the new education policy is almost ready and it will be sent for approval as soon as possible”.

Deliberations over the NEP, which has gone through two committees, have been going on for the last six years.

The latest NEP draft was formulated by a committee headed by eminent space scientist K. Kasturirangan. The policy will be the rule book of all things related to education in India.

Thrust on e-learning

Sources in the HRD said the NEP is set to include more online and e-learning options at both school and college levels to make it more technology-oriented. 

This is in line with the MHRD’s current policy of teaching students through various e-resources in the wake of the lockdown.

Platforms like SWAYAM, DIKSHA and e-Pathshala have been recommended by the ministry for college and school students as education institutions are shut.

In synch with PM Modi’s ideas

Sources in the ministry added that changes in the NEP are also in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ideas. 

The PM had on 1 May chaired a meeting with the officials of the ministry and other stakeholders to discuss inclusion of technology in the NEP.

“Special emphasis was given on the use of technology in the education sector, and enhancing learning and adapting by the use of technology such as online classes, education portal and class-wise broadcast on dedicated education channels,” according to a statement on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website.

The use and promotion of technology in various modes — online, TV channels, radio, podcasts — for education at school and higher levels was discussed in detail, the statement added.