Page 65 - EducationWorld September 2020

NEP 2020: billion dollar funding question

diture including education, is certain to be slashed. Despite spreading. “NEP 2020 is an eloquent statement of hopes
NEP 2020 reiterating government resolve to raise spend- and aspirations. Its road to heaven is paved with good in-
ing on public education to 6 percent of GDP (NPE 1986 tentions. Alas, economic, social and political realities might
D
and its predecessor Kothari Commission in 1966 had made play the serpent in this paradise,” wrote e e p a k N a y y a r,
similar pleas), current government (Centre plus states) former vice chancellor of Delhi University in Mint (August
spending on public education is a mere 3.1 percent of GDP. 13).
The universal expectation is that far from increasing, Meanwhile with NEP 2020 now official policy, the
government expenditure on public education will decrease newly renamed Union education ministry, has invited sug-
during the next three years, as recovering industry and gestions from school teachers and principals on ways and
business growth momentum — and add to that additional means to implement NEP 2020. “We believe that teachers
defence expenditure because of the China threat in the are the key to implementation of NEP 2020, and hence we
north-east border region — become the top priorities of have decided to call for suggestions from all school teachers
government. and principals from across the country on how to take the
Nevertheless, in a live broadcast to the nation on August implementation process of the National Education Policy
7, prime minister Narendra Modi reiterated the Central forward,” tweeted a m e s h P ok h riy a l , Union education
R
government’s determined resolve to implement NEP 2020. minister, on August 23. A similar invitation is likely to be
“It is natural for some people to question that after such extended by the ministry to academics in higher education.
a big reform was brought on paper, how will it be imple- Even as this laborious official process gets underway,
mented at the ground level. That is, now everyone’s eyes EducationWorld presents suggestions and recommen-
are towards its implementation. All of you are directly dations of seven carefully selected education leaders for
involved with the implementation of the National Educa- implementing NEP 2020 in seven critical domains: early
tion Policy and therefore your role is very important. As far childhood care and education; school curriculum and
as political will is concerned, I am fully committed to it and pedagogy development; teacher education; standards-set-
I am with you,” said Modi. ting and accreditation; higher education restructuring and
However, pessimism about implementing NEP 2020 is regulation and vocational education.

SEPTEMBER 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 65