By Archie Rymbai
The new education policy, NEP 2020, basically says this: school, college/ Universities shouldn’t just prepare students for exams and jobs. They should also prepare to build things, solve problems, and start their own thing if the students want to, as a practical approach, “Learn to Live”, not “Learn to Pass”.
Start Thinking Like an Entrepreneur Early- Right now, most people only think about startups after college. NEP 2020 changes that.
In school-From Class 6 onwards, students will try out basic vocational skills – coding, carpentry, farming, digital marketing, and even local crafts. It’s not about becoming an expert at 14. It’s about knowing how things are made and how small businesses work.
Internships in school/ College/Universities Students will spend a few days each year working with local shops, artisans, or startups. So actually see how a business runs, not just read about it in a textbook. Every college is expected to have some kind of innovation lab or incubation center. If any student has an idea, they shouldn’t have to wait till graduation to test it.
The biggest reason students don’t take risks is fear of wasting years. NEP fixes that a bit on the -Multiple exit points -Doing a 4-year degree but want to quit after 2 years to work on a startup? Leave with a diploma that actually means something. Come back later and finish the degree using the credits you already earned. Mix and match subjects-Don’t be stuck in just “science” or “commerce.” Study AI and agriculture together, or design and engineering. Most real startups come from mixing different fields anyway.Credit for real work-If you build a product, work on a startup project, or do a serious internship, that can count toward your degree.
The real deal is to Focus on Real Problems Around. Instead of copying Silicon Valley ideas, NEP pushes students to look at problems in their own town or state.
Use your language-Citing the example of the Khasi Language Inclusive in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, As Teaching in your mother tongue in early years helps more students understand and come up with ideas. This also integrates with IKS ( Indian Knowledge System) under NEP 2020.
Furthermore working with local businesses-Colleges are encouraged to partner with MSMEs and local industries. So a student in a small town can work on a problem for a local factory or farm, and maybe turn it into a business.
Research should lead to products as Right now, a lot of college research just ends up as a paper no one reads. NEP wants more of that research to become actual products, apps, or services.
Changing how Teachers Are Judged- Teachers won’t just be judged on how many research papers they publish.If a teacher helps a student file a patent or launch a startup, that should count too. Colleges/ Universities can also bring in real entrepreneurs as “professors of practice” – people who’ve actually built businesses, even if they don’t have a PhD.
Now the question arises as to Where Are We Right Now?
The idea is good, but it’s still rolling out. The good part is that IITs, NITs, and some universities already have active startup cells. Schools under Atal Tinkering Labs are letting kids build and break things from Class 6.
The gap- Many smaller colleges don’t have mentors, funding, or connections with local businesses yet. That’s where the real work is needed.
In a clear perspective, NEP 2020 is trying to make entrepreneurship feel normal, not scary. It wants students to leave college thinking, “What problem can I solve?” instead of only, “Where can I get a job?”It won’t make everyone a founder. But it gives you the skills, safety net, and mindset to try if they want to.
(The writer is Director Entrepreneurship Development Cell at William Carey University, Shillong)
