Page 68 - EducationWorld September 2020

Special Report

STANDARDS-SETTING & ACCREDITATION FOR SCHOOLS validating processes and taking
corrective action if required, during
Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo still executing all roles? implementation. In my opinion, the
NEP 2020 has separated the func- biggest roadblock is funding. NPE
tions of policy formulation, opera- 1986 recommended raising public
tions and regulation and entrusted spending on education to 6 percent
them to different government of GDP, but over the past 34 years
agencies. While the State Educa- national spending has not exceeded
tion Department is tasked with 3.5 percent of GDP. Moreover,
policy formulation, the Directorate successful implementation of
of Education is in charge of running NEP 2020 requires a complete
government schools and SCERT will transformation in the mindset
set academic standards. The success of policy makers and regulatory
of this three-tier system will depend agencies which will take time. There
on how effectively state governments is also fear that the new regulations
are able to maintain the indepen- and regulatory authorities
dence of these institutions. established by NEP 2020 may
Won’t the State School Standards prompt protests and litigation from
Authority (SSSA) tighten government private school stakeholders, which
regulation of private schools? will delay implementation.
An ‘independent’ SSSA is mandated Is there any important area of school
with regulating public and private regulation which NEP 2020 has failed to
r. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo is schools and monitor maintenance address?
founder-chairman of the Bhu- of minimum common standards. I believe NEP 2020 should have
Dbaneswar (Odisha)-based SAI Careful selection of SSSA members included the following initiatives to
International Group comprising four is of paramount importance for ensure better and faster transforma-
institutions — the SAI International maintaining its independence. tion of Indian education:
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School, SAI International Residential Otherwise, it will end up over- • u n din g . Promoting education
School, Sai Angan preschool and Sai regulating private and under- institutions is a capital intensive
International College of Commerce regulating public, schools. endeavour requiring large capital
— with an aggregate enrolment of All schools are obliged to post extensive infusion in the form of debt, debt
5,260 students and 756 teachers. Dr. information on the SSSA and institu- instruments and quasi-equity. NEP
Sahoo is also Advisor with ministe- tional websites. Doesn’t this NEP 2020 2020 should have provided for equi-
rial rank of the Odisha Adarsha provision violate institutional privacy? ty funding and investment in private
Vidyalaya Sangathan, tasked with the While self-disclosure of all institu- education by Real Estate Invest-
mission to establish 314 CBSE-affil- tional information by schools will ment Trusts (REITs), Infrastructure
iated English-medium government ensure transparency, regulators Investment Trust (InvIT) and Private
schools — one in every administra- have to safeguard schools against Equity (PE).
tive block of Odisha. harassment and misuse of disclosed • h re e T ie r M ode l . This model
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Are you satisfied with NEP 2020’s pro- information. adopted by most developed nations
mandates a property company to
posals for regulating schools? NEP 2020 proposes a National As- build education infrastructure, an
For the first time in Indian education sessment Centre (PARAKH) to conduct operating company to manage infra-
history, NEP 2020 has focused on numerous examinations. What’s your structure and services, and society/
learning outcomes rather than input- comment? trust to manage education institu-
based standards for school educa- The National Assessment Centre for tions. Endorsement of this model by
tion. The proposed State School Performance Assessment, Review NEP 2020 would have facilitated es-
Standards Authority (SSSA) will and Analysis of Knowledge for tablishment of education institutions
ensure accountability and improve Holistic Development — PARAKH of global standards in our country.
overall quality of K-12 education. — has been set up to conduct exams • rie v a n c e re dre s s a l a n d a p p e l -
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Most important, if implemented as for classes III, V and VIII in addition l a te m e c h a n is m . To reduce litiga-
proposed, it will ensure all schools to classes X and XII board exams. tion, the policy should have included
— public and private — maintain Though this will ensure better learn- a detailed, well-defined grievance
minimum quality standards. NEP ing outcomes, there’s the danger redressal and appellate mechanism
2020 states that all public and that too many exams will stress out for public and private schools.
private schools will be assessed and children, especially in their formative • e n tra l a n d s ta te e du c a tion
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accredited on common criteria. In years, teachers and parents. b oa rds . A provision in NEP 2020 to
the long run greater accountability synchronise uniformity between the
will improve overall standards. What are the major implementation
roadblocks confronting NEP 2020? Central and state education boards
The policy separates the regulatory and The success of NEP 2020 will would have paved the way for one
operational functions of government. Is depend on adherence to timelines nation, one curriculum and common
this possible with government agencies in formulating regulations, standards.

68 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2020