The New Education Policy is a breath of fresh air

The New Education Policy announced earlier in 2020 paves the way towards a more practical system of education. The policy allows young adults to choose their subjects of study as per their interest and inclination after their 12th Grade. They don't have to learn irrelevant subjects. Students would be able to nurture life & vocational skills right from 6th Grade, even before entering college, which is great news!

The policy also brings early childhood education (also known as pre-school education) for children of ages 3 to 5 under the ambit of formal schooling. One of my concerns is the ability of the teachers in this stage to motivate and guide the children. The anganwadis where the preschool program is to be implemented are not well equipped in their current state. They are planning training programs, but how the asha workers will cope up with its implementation stands to be seen. Practical techniques like early intervention and observation of the milestones in the individual child can be taught to workers to ensure the policy maximizes its impact for children in the younger age groups. 

Our mainstay education project, Srijan Public School, is up to Grade 8. But we plan to adapt this system in our own small way. In fact, we have been taking small steps in this direction to develop an all-rounded awareness amongst our students. Work at Srijan is based primarily on the Montessori system, but we ensure the tiny tots also have a strong base in the mainstream modes of education. Our AIESEC volunteers, who became a part of our program since xx, have played a vital role to expand their exposure, knowledge, and imaginations. 

Let us wait and watch, and keep our fingers crossed!