Let's shape the instrument to shape the future of our future generations.
Robust education policy is the prerequisite for quality education in any country. The importance of quality education in the sustainable development of the planet could be gauged with the fact that it has been adopted as SDG 4 in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set up in 2015 for the year 2030.
The education shapes a child's development, developed children shape the nation and nations shape the future of the planet. Besides the provision for basic needs of life such as food and good health, quality education is a pre-requisite for the holistic development of a child and also for achieving the global goals.
The proposed National Education Policy (NEP) 2019, presently being discussed as a draft, will be a crucial document to achieve the targets of SDG 4 for 17.5 per cent of the world population. This will be the third education policy for the largest democracy of the world upon its adoption. First education policy was adopted in 1968 while the second in 1986. Both these policies were formulated by a closed group of people without much public discourse. However, advances in information technology have made public discourse possible through the use of online platforms and related tools. Our generation is blissful to have such opportunities for open discourse by ensuring the participation of a diverse set of minds to enrich the policy paradigms for shaping the future of coming generations.
Devdiscourse has launched a live discourse on the draft of NEP 2019. Here we present diverse news and views on the policy and provide an opportunity to our readers for sharing their views and ideas in the form of scholastic articles, blogs, analysis, comments and videos till June 25, 2019. The output of the discourse will be compiled and presented to the HRD Ministry for consideration.
These 14 suggestions are the final output of Live Discourse on ‘SDG 4 for India: National Education Policy 2019’ – about two months long marathon intellectual discourse on the Draft National Education Policy launched by the Devdiscourse.com on 7th June 2019. Initially planned to conclude on 30th June, the intellectual discourse was allowed to continue till 31st July as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India extended the deadline to submit the suggestions and comments on the Draft NEP. Though the MHRD has further extended the deadline till 15th August 2019 the final suggestions were compiled, analysed and submitted in a presentable form to the MHRD on Wednesday, 31st July 2019.
Also Read: The 14 suggestions of 'Live Discourse' for Draft NEP 2019
Merely speaking about philanthropic educational institutes is not sufficient, it's also essential to make a suitable system to identify and control profit-oriented educational institutions. The permission should also be granted to open profit-oriented/commercial/corporate/private educational institutions and it should be truthfully presented in the society. There should be no scope for hypocrisy. Therefore, the parents could take an informed decision on whether they want to admit their wards in philanthropic institutes or corporate institutes.
Also Read: Draft NEP 2019: Say No to Hypocrisy of Philanthropy in Education
Teacher plays a key role in education but could become a spoiler as well. Once a wrong appointment of an incompetent or substandard candidate is made as a teacher, it’s practically impossible to get rid of him/her. After reaching high levels in the hierarchy of power and decision-making positions, such teachers have the potential to cause irreparable damage to the society at large and the education system in particular. The impediments before our education system in general, and higher education, in particular, are many, and the NEP 2019 will have to be implemented in a letter and spirit to deal with them.
Also Read: Draft NEP 2019: How teachers can make or spoil education, by Prof. Ranjana Sehgal
How Indian media debated the Draft NEP 2019? In this debate spanning over two months, the draft policy received some fierce criticism but also praise from unexpected quarters who are known for opposing each and every policy of the government for their different ideological affiliations. To sum up about two months long intellectual discourse, here we present the top 10 fiercely debated topics and issues that prominently featured in media.
Also Read: Top 10 most debated topics of Draft NEP 2019 in Media
Shivakumar Jolad holds PhD in Physics and Doctoral minor in Demography from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. He is presently Associate Professor, Public Policy in the School of Liberal Education, FLAME University, Mumbai. He has extensively researched on Data Analytics, Education Policy and Human Development. In an exclusive interview with Siddheshwar Shukla, Associate Editor, Devdiscourse, Jolad freely shares his views on pros and cons of the Draft National Education Policy 2019 on Liberal Arts which he prefers to address as ‘Liberal Education’. Read the Full Interview.
Also Read: NEP 2019: Liberal Education can bring transformation, S. Jolad, FLAME University
Setting up of National Research Foundation (NRF), adoption of a New Education Policy and allocation of over Rs 400 crore for building world-class institutes are among the budgetary announcements made for the education sector on Friday. Rs 94,853.64 crore outlay has been earmarked for the education sector in 2019-20 fiscal, an increase of over 13 percent from the revised estimates of 2018-19. In the last budget, then finance minister Arun Jaitley had allocated Rs 85,010 crore for the education sector which was later revised to Rs 83,625.86 crore. Read more...
During this academic crisis, the Draft National Education Policy 2019 is like a boon to advance the required academic teaching, learning and research strategies to mark our place in the global ranking. Through the policy, our educators will be empowered to make curricular choices for their courses and to pursue research with academic freedom which results in reaching the expected job market.
Also Read: NEP 2019: Changing role of a teacher, from sage on stage to a guide by side
“None of the institutions in India is offering the entire range of Liberal Arts courses, which require the right mix of courses in humanities, arts, mathematics and sciences,” argues Dr Sanjay Modi, Executive Dean, Lovely Faculty of Liberal Arts, Lovely Professional University, Punjab (India). Read the Full Interview.
Also Read: NEP 2019: Indigenous Wisdom to enrich Liberal Arts for World, says Dean LPU
The Indian idea of secularism needs to be defined, elaborated and understood in holistic Indian perspective without any literary and academic reference to the imported model of the Western secularism. The problem lies with silo thinking and silo writing among Eurocentric intellectuals in India who have a tendency to view every concept and practice through the intellectual spectacles imported from Euro-American nations.
Also Read: Raising the Secularism Hoax on Draft National Education Policy 2019
Dr. Uma Narain, Fulbright Fellow and founding Dean, JDSoLA, NMIMS University, Mumbai in an exclusive interview to Devdiscourse, argues that the recommendations for the Liberal Arts in the Draft National Education Policy 2019, are revolutionary. “The VUCA world has necessitated a rethink on education because the product of academia is no longer directly employable,” says Narain. Read the Full Interview.
Also Read: How Liberal Arts in NEP 2019 can ensure real education to students