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2023; National Credit Framework • There can’t be differing govern-
and National Institutional Ranking ment regulations and requirements
Framework (NIRF). The govern- for preschools in the states. How can
ment has promoted new IITs, IIMs, teacher qualifications; teacher-pupil
and AIIMS. Moreover its emphasis ratio; curriculum; fire and transport
on skill development and vocational safety rules; and per sq. ft area re-
training is also commendable. quired for every child be different in
every state? We need a Uniform Code
What should be the Top 3 education for the Foundational Stage.
priorities of the new post-2024 govern-
ment? Significant achievements &
• Better provision for training teach-
ers to attain NEP 2020 goals. notable challenges
• Implementation of NEP 2020
and the NCFs in their true spirit ooraine Fazal is co-founder
across the length and breadth of the and managing trustee of the
country. NCISCE (Delhi) and Cam-
• Align and sync school education NEP 2020, NCF for the Foundation- bridge International (UK)-affiliated
with the higher education system. al Stage 2022 and NCF for School Inventure Academy, Whitefield
Education 2023; the PARAKH portal (estb.2005) and Inventure, Yesh-
ECCE given high priority which will track the learning of every wanthpur (estb.2024) — both in
child from school to college; and
Bangalore.
r. Swati Popat Vats is reconfiguring of the old 10+2 system
founder-president of the to 5+3+3+4 to include five years of What are the biggest education achieve-
DEarly Childhood Association foundational stage education — three ments and failures of the BJP govern-
(ECA, estb.2011), president of Podar years of pre-primary and two of pri- ment during the past decade?
Jumbo Kids (PJK) chain, and one of mary. Also, the establishment of new Achievements
India’s most fervent proponents of IITs, IIMs and AIIMS institutes will • Introduction of NEP 2020 is a
universal early childhood care and augment capacity. significant achievement with the
education (ECCE) for India’s 165 Rather than failures, there’s potential to transform the education
million children below age six. sluggish movement on the following system comprehensively by shift-
issues: ing focus to holistic development,
Are you satisfied with the education • Many states including a few BJP flexible learning, and assessment
record of the past 10 years of the BJP states have still not revised nursery reforms.
government? admission age to 3 years in line with • The establishment of new univer-
Quite satisfied. As an early childhood NEP 2020. sities and colleges, including in the
advocate and educator, I believe • Standardised teaching qualifica- North-east and Ladakh, has expand-
remarkable changes have been in- tions for ECCE educators have not ed access to higher education.
troduced in the early childhood care been prescribed.
and education (ECCE) sector. NEP • Competitive exams are still putting
2020 has accorded high priority to high pressure on children, often
ECCE by formally incorporating it leading to suicide.
into the school system. And for the
first time we have a separate curricu- What should be the Top 3 education
lum framework for the foundational priorities of the new post-2024 govern-
stage — NCF-FS. ment?
However, since education is a • Think innovatively to solve the
concurrent subject, reforms pertain- problem of students’ exam stress. It
ing to regulation of preschools also starts from the top and percolates
have to be implemented by state down to the preschool level. It’s time
governments. to rehaul assessment systems for all
grades.
What are the biggest education achieve- • There’s urgent need to set common
ments and failures of the past decade? teacher qualifications for the founda-
Among achievements, I would list tional years across India.

MARCH 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 53