Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting today, May 7, to review progress in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He noted that a hybrid system of online and offline learning needs to be developed to avoid overexposure of technology from school-going children.
Online, open and multimodal learning has been promoted by schools and colleges, helping to reduce the learning loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also helped achieve education in remote and inaccessible parts of the country, the official PIB publication said.
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Multiple entry exit in higher education is becoming a reality with nearly 400 colleges and universities registered with Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), according to the official PIB press release. This will now make it possible for students to study according to their convenience and choice, it added.
PM Modi noted that since the launch of the policy, several initiatives have been rolled out to achieve the goals of access, equity, inclusiveness and quality as enshrined in the policy. “From dedicated efforts to identify and bring school-age children back into the mainstream, to the introduction of multiple inflows and outflows in higher education, many transformative reforms have been initiated that will define and guide the country’s progress as we the ‘Amrit Kaal'”, said the prime minister.
It was noted at the meeting that the formulation of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), led by the National Steering Committee, is underway. Furthermore, initiatives such as ECCE in Balavatika, NIPUN Bharat, Vidya Pravesh, exam reforms and innovative pedagogies such as art-integrated education and toy-based pedagogy have been adopted, he added.
UGC has notified the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Program Regulations, under which 59 higher education institutions (HEIs) offer 351 full online programs and 86 offer 1081 ODL programs. The allowed limit of online content in a program has also been increased to 40 percent, the release said.
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The emphasis was on multilingualism in education. It was noted during the NEP 2020 meeting that it must be ensured that any lack of knowledge of English does not hinder the educational level of any student. “To this end, states publish bilingual/trilingual textbooks at a fundamental level and content has been made available on the DIKSHA platform in 33 Indian languages. NIOS has introduced Indian Sign Language (ISL) as a secondary level language subject,” the release said.
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