Economic Highlight
New
Delhi, 3 August 2020
Costlier
NEP
CUT
YEARS, EDUCATE MORE
By Shivaji Sarkar
The
much awaited New Education Policy (NEP) has turned out to be old wine in not a
well-crafted supposedly new bottle. It takes us back to the 1960s and not 2100
with virtual repetition in concepts, approach and making it cumbersome with an
unnecessary four-year degree course that may only help the multinational
education lobby, alien to the Indian concept.
It has
not done much to help even the private sector Indian education system. The
concept of 5+3+4+4 is not different from the 1950s’ primary, middle, high
school and intermediate education. The 1960s tried a failed model of three years
of higher secondary education with examination at Class 11. Many States like Uttar
Pradesh did not follow it and found they were wiser as in a few years again it
was 10+2 to be followed by two-year and later three-year degree course.
Now a
vague system of four-year-degree course, the UPA government tried to introduce
through Delhi University and failed, is being foisted again. It would lead to
loss to sudents of one precious year of entering the job market. There is
confusion of having option to complete it in three years – with blocking future
career – closing option to improve career later or do in four years and then
have option for higher education. The thought of giving certificate and diploma
would merely add to the confusion.
It is
strange that educationists could think of blocking careers in a society that with
new technoliges and other options continuously add to knowldege. There could be
arguments that indirect options are available. Is that really so? Peculiar part
of the argument is incomprehensible about extending term of education. It
becomes costlier, cumbersome and wastes on time – each of it precious for a
country that has 80 crore people who have to sustain on doles.
Another
cumbersome part is to have a class 9 to 12 – four years in a block that
practically becomes difficult to manage for any education system. It does not
change the pattern of Lord Macaulay but makes it complicated. The wiser part
would have been to reduce one-year of school term. Nobody has studied the loss
or benefit of doing away the class 10 or 12 examinations.
And why
it has to to be 5+3 of primary and middle schooling? Why cannot it be 5+2 = 7
years? Wisely it can follow a three six-monthly systems in two parts after 5+2 to
let the students exit schools in 3 years, that is 10 years in all. It has some
practical administrative problems, so again it can be a 2+2 system.
It can
be followed by a three-year degree and one year of post graduation, the four
years that the NEP is saying would be fruitfully utilised. This would reduce
education term to 15 years without any loss in cognitive deliveries. Let India
force the rest of the world to reduce the teaching term to a maximum of 15
years, with post-graduation and three-year pre-schooling – total of 18 years.
This
would leave more time for those students who want to pursue still higher
education or other skills. On an average it would prepare students for jobs at
the age of 20. Overall the family expenses per child would reduce. It would
help the country grow and reduce costs on the nation.
The NEP
is confused about its stress on research. Over the past at least three decades
the nation has wasted resources on “research”, a copy-paste system. It has to
realise that research has to be on volition and not compulsion that the UGC has
done now. If UGC is proposed to be removed, though the rationale is yet to be
comprehended, how its flawed research methodlogy could continue?
Let the
nation redo it. Even teachers should not be forced to do the so-called
research. It does not add to learning but causes precious loss of years,
finances and energy. Let us rethink, redo and chalk-out a research strategy
spearate from an education policy. The lacakaidaisical ornamental approach has
caused more harm to research and resources. Forcing instituions and universities
to ensure PhDs has done more harm. So let research be separated from the
15-year intense education process. A confused lot of advisors are preventing
solution and real in-depth research.
The
stress on privatisation of education without government funding is another
bane. It has led to many undesairable practices because organisations cannot
sustain the system financially. It is also incomprehensible why so much leeway
is proposed for foreign institutions.
Any
foreign body is interested in profit by making education expensive with false
promises of their linkages with employers. They are planning to ride piggyback
on Indian institutions claiming 50 per cent of the fees they are charging. It
would weaken Indian institutions and malpractices are likely to be
institutionalised and legalised. Let a self-reliant India shun it.
Collaborations
have to be ensured to be beneficial and viable for the country. The FDI bogey
in industry has drained a lot in repatriation. Education can be spared of it.
There
is less clarity on National Testing Agency (NTA) as centralised testing
organisation to conduct entrance examination. There is a fallacy. What about
other testing mechanims?The examinations, certificates and degrees at various
stages should continue and must have recognition if many do not want to go to
NTA.
Similarly,
National Higher Education Regulatory Authority (NHERA) is supposed to end
regional varieties or State boards. It is fraught with too many risks. The
multi-disiciplinary and research universities (MERU) should not do away with
many excellent institutions and their practices.
Another
void is being seen in the early child education. There are confusions and lack
of clarity.
Education
costs the government Rs 99311 crore as per 2020-21 Budget. Another Rs 1 lakh
crore or more is spent by parents through private systems. Still it is less
than the required and that tells on the quality of teachers.
The
admission to higher education would still remain a tug-of-war. A new inspector
or regulatory raj, apprehended by Anil Swarup, former Education Secretary, may
be a reality.
The
nation should have another process of review instead of rushing through it. The
aim should be to improve education, reduce burden and create an unparalleled
quality with maintaining regional varieties and wholesome but not centralised
system. And finally a system with clarity. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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