Key features of NEP 2020: School Education
July 19, 2024 2024-07-19 17:04Key features of NEP 2020: School Education
Key features of NEP 2020: School Education
Following our series of blog posts on the salient features of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, here comes the next blog post with further features of the policy:
Teacher training and technology integration
- Teachers’ empowerment: A robust system for teacher recruitment and a four-year integrated Bachelor of Education programme improve teaching quality.
- National Mentoring Mission: Mentorship programmes support teachers’ professional development throughout their careers.
- Technology for learning: The National Educational Technology Forum encourages the effective use of technology in education at all levels.
Continuous Professional Development
The NEP acknowledges the importance of ongoing professional development for teachers and school leaders. They propose the following:
- Lifelong Learning for Teachers: Teachers will have access to a variety of opportunities for continuous self-improvement throughout their careers. These opportunities include workshops, online training modules and other resources tailored to their specific interests and needs.
- Yearly CPD Requirement: Each teacher will be expected to participate in at least 50 hours of CPD activities per year. This ensures they stay updated on best practices, learn new teaching methods and refine their skills.
- Leadership Development for Principals: School principals will also be required to engage in at least 50 hours of CPD activities annually. Their focus will be on leadership and management skills with an emphasis on developing and implementing pedagogical plans based on competency-based education.
National Professional Standards for Teachers
The NEP 2020 proposes establishing clear expectations for teachers through the development of National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST). It includes:
- National Benchmarks: The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) will be tasked with developing a comprehensive set of NPST.
- Stage-Specific Standards: These standards will outline the expected roles and competencies of teachers at different stages of their careers and areas of expertise. This ensures expectations evolve alongside teachers’ professional development.
- Empowering the NCTE: The NCTE will be restructured and transformed into a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) under the General Education Council (GEC). This strengthens the NCTE’s role in setting and upholding the national teaching standards.
Special educators
The NEP recognizes the need for qualified special educators to support students with disabilities. They aim to address this by:
- Specialized Training: Teacher training programmes will offer specializations in teaching children with disabilities (Divyang children) at the middle and secondary school levels. This can occur during pre-service training (before they become teachers) or as additional training after they begin teaching.
- Stronger Collaboration: The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) will work together to ensure greater synergy between their course curriculums. This collaboration will ensure special-education teachers receive a well-rounded and effective training programme that equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support students with varied needs.
Revamping teacher education to set higher benchmarks
The NEP outlines a comprehensive plan to reform teacher education in India. It includes:
- Stricter Regulations: Substandard Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) that fail to meet minimum quality standards will face stricter action from regulatory bodies. A one-year window will be provided to rectify deficiencies before potential sanctions.
- Focus on Quality: By 2030, the aim is to have only well-established, multidisciplinary, and integrated teacher education programmes in place.
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Universities and colleges, including those specializing in various disciplines, will be encouraged to establish or expand education departments. This will encourage collaboration between departments like psychology, science, arts, and education, enriching teacher training.
- Phasing Out Standalone TEIs: Standalone Teacher Education Institutions (TEI) will need to transition into multidisciplinary institutions by 2030 to accommodate the new 4-year integrated teacher preparation programme.
- Standardized Entrance Exams: Admissions to pre-service teacher training programmes will be based on standardized subject and aptitude tests conducted by the National Testing Agency. This ensures aspiring teachers possess the necessary skills and knowledge.
- D. Reform: All new Ph.D. students, regardless of their field of study, will be required to take courses in teaching methodology, pedagogy and writing related to their subject area.
- Online Learning Platforms: The initiative encourages utilizing online platforms like SWAYAM and DIKSHA for teacher training to provide flexibility and accessibility.
- National Mentoring Mission: A National Mission for Mentoring will be established. This programme will create a pool of experienced senior or retired faculty who can offer short-term or long-term mentoring and professional support to teachers in universities and colleges.
Stay tuned for more as we continue to explore the transformative features of NEP 2020 in our upcoming blog posts.