Deputy Commissioner in-charge Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Regional Office Aditya Prakash Singh today said that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 is preparing students to face the challenges of the 21st century.
He said the policy has laid the foundation for a forward-thinking approach that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills. “NEP of 1986 was followed for 34 years. Ever since NEP-2020 was implemented, the activities held, beyond curriculum and syllabus have multiplied manifolds in central government schools like KV, JNV and other CBSE schools compared to the previous NEP period,” Singh said at a joint press conference in Shillong ahead of the third anniversary of the NEP.
“NEP is promoting critical thinking rather than rote learning, focus on learning instead of studying, encouragement to scientific temperament”, added Principal KV EAC, Upper Shillong Mon Bahadur Chetri. He held that NEP advocates for the universal provisioning of quality early childhood development, care and education by 2030.
Chetri said the policy recommends that prior to age of 5, every child will move to a ‘Preparatory Class’ or ‘Balvatika’ i.e. before Grade-I with focus on developing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities.”
Vice Principal of KV Happy Valley, K Ramesh said that NEP has shifted the traditional route of learning to experiential learning with an understanding of basic concepts. He said that activities like Science and Social Science exhibitions, Children’s Science Congress, interaction with role models and others have paved the way for practical, field-based learning. All this has enhanced the pleasure and joy of learning among children, he added.
B D Ramteke, Assistant Commissioner, NVS Regional Office said that adequate faculty members and a better learning environment with technology integration, digital learning platforms like smart classes and other adequate infrastructure are provided by the Union Government to implement NEP. Teachers are provided adequate training with the help of workshops and others to improve the quality of teaching. He underscored the NVS’s unwavering commitment to NEP 2020 principles. The focus on competency-based learning in core subjects like language, Science, and Maths has transformed the learning approach, promoting conceptual understanding over rote learning, he added.
Neelam Sharma, Principal, JNV, East Khasi Hills spoke about PM Shri – PM Schools for Rising India which is a centrally sponsored scheme intended to prepare schools of excellence. All categories of schools – Primary, Elementary, Secondary and Senior Secondary school will be selected under this initiative to be transformed as Exemplar Schools. The Scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of 5 years with effect from 2022-23 to 2026-27. A total of 6448 Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country will be covered in the first phase, she added.
The third anniversary of NEP was also organized at JNV Mawkyrwat in South West Khasi Hills.
Additional SDSEO S.S. Lyngkhoi, principals, teachers and students attended the programme.
Principal in-charge JNV Mawkyrwat, K. Modhuchandra Singh highlighted about salient features of NEP 2020, new pedagogies and competency based education.
Principal Maharam higher Secondary School, D.G. Nongsiej, said that the policy is good to be implemented provided teachers and other faculties are also appointed for specified subjects and availability of school infrastructure.
Lyngkhoi said that NEP 2020 will cater to the needs of 21st century skills right from early childhood to higher education.
A two-day Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam organised by the Ministries of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship will be inaugurated tomorrow in New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of the third anniversary of NEP-2020.
