New Education Policy 2020: Education Ministry puts Technology at the centre of Education

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar held the NEP briefing today. The duo talked about the National Education Policy at the briefing. The committee suggested changes in the education system under the NEP. The committee was headed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan.

When talking about the policy, many times minister Prakash Javadekar stated that they are going to put technology at the centre of policy. This was for both schools and governance. Further, in our earlier post, we also said that according to the NEP (draft of 2020), there were some key points. The technology was number one. This is because the new generation will grow in an era of technology. Therefore, here are the points in which the NEP put technology forward for New Education Policy.

Tech-based learning for adults

The Education Ministry will develop quality technology options for adult learning. These will include apps, online courses/modules, TV channels, online books, and ICT libraries and Adult Education Centres.

Coding from class 6

The Ministry has made coding a part of the curriculum. Along with mathematical thinking, scientific temper, Coding will also be a part of co-curriculum course. This is to prepare school students for the digital age. It will further bolster efforts in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design, and Mathematics) education.

Access for Disadvantageous Groups, e-Content in Regional Languages and Divyang Friendly Education Softwares

The ministry said that they will focus on creating and delivering high-quality content using technology. The software will support the translation of content into multiple languages. Further, it will assist differently-abled learners; improve the quality of pedagogy and learning processes through the use of intelligent tutoring systems and adaptive assessment systems; create new types of interactive and immersive content (e.g. using augmented and virtual reality); strengthen educational planning and management and bring greater transparency and efficiency to the examination system as well as to administrative and governance processes; assist in the management of education such as supporting teacher development programmes; and scale up the ODL system. Thus, it will help it to respond to the growing demand for education from all age groups.

Further, the e-content will be available in regional languages. Starting with 8 major languages - Kannada, Odia, Bengali among others will join the e-courses available in Hindi and English.

National Educational Technology Forum

The National Educational Technology Forum will be a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to improve
learning, assessment, planning and administration. It will be an autonomous body that will take decisions on the induction, deployment, and use of technology.

Minimum Human Interface and Digitally Equipping Schools

The ministry further added that schools will have to take up technology as an integral part of their teaching methods. The National Education Policy stated that teachers will have better internet connectivity, to enable the use of personal computing devices in schools.

34 Years after the 1984 Education policy, India will finally compete with global schools through technology.