structure of new education policy in long
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As per the new school education system of 5+3+3+4 outlined in NEP 2020, children will spend 5 years in the Foundational stage, 3 years in the Preparatory stage, 3 years in the Middle stage, and 4 years in the Secondary stage.
India's new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is set to replace the 10+2 schooling system in India with a new 5+3+3+4 system. Here are what the different education stages mean and what experts have to say about it.
s India’s new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was approved on July 29, it is set to replace the 10+2 schooling system in India with a new 5+3+3+4 system.
But this doesn’t mean that the 10+2 system will become obsolete. The new schooling system only brings three years of kindergarten classes or playschools under the ambit of formal education.
Since the NEP 2020 also increases the span of the Right to Education Act and will now cover ages 3 to 18, it looks at organising the total school education period so that in the Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) or pre-school level, there is more access, affordability, accountability and universalization, and all with better quality education.
As per the education system usually followed in urban settings today, children first join playschools and then move to schools where they carry out two years of kindergarten classes (KG classes) followed by 12 years of school education (classes 1 to 12).
This change from the 10+2 to the 5+3+3+4 system would help with a more seamless and inclusive transition from the pre-school ages right to the higher classes (9 to 12)
5+3+3+4 school system explained
As per the new school education system of 5+3+3+4 outlined in NEP 2020, children will spend 5 years in the Foundational stage, 3 years in the Preparatory stage, 3 years in the Middle stage, and 4 years in the Secondary stage.
The division of stages has been made in line with the kind of cognitive development stages that a child goes through early childhood, school years, and secondary stage.
Here is the age-wise breakdown of the different levels of the new school education system:
1. 5 years of Foundational stage:
For ages: 3 to 8
For classes: Anganwadi/pre-school, class 1, class 2
The foundational stage of education as per the national education policy will comprise 3 years or preschool or anganwadi education followed by two years of primary classes (classes 1 and 2).
This stage will focus on teaching in play-based or activity-based methods and on the development of language skills.
2. 3 years of Preparatory stage:
For ages: 8 to 11
For classes: 3 to 5
The focus in the preparatory stage will remain on language development and numeracy skills.
Here, the method of teaching and learning would be play and activity-based, and also include classroom interactions and the element of discovery.
3. 3 years of Middle stage:
For ages: 11 to 14
For classes: 6 to 8
As per NEP 2020, this stage of school education will focus on critical learning objectives, which is a big shift from the rote learning methods used in our education system for years.
This stage will work on experiential learning in the sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences and humanities.
4. 4 years of Secondary stage:
For ages: 14 to 18
For classes: 9 to 12
This stage will cover two phases classes 9 and 10, and classes 11 and 12.
The main change in these classes is the shift to a multidisciplinary system where students will have access to a variety of subject combinations that they can choose as per their skills and interest areas instead of being strictly divided into Arts, Science and Commerce categories.
This stage will again push for greater critical thinking and flexibility in the thought process.
What experts have to say about NEP 2020’s 5+3+3+4 school system
Forms a strong base
India faces big problems when it comes to shifting students from anganwadis and playschools to formal schooling. A strong base in the foundational level is crucial for children to be able to keep learning as they grow older.
“The new initiative recognizes the importance of development as it includes the ages of 3 to 6 in formal education. Those are the very crucial ages for children to develop in,” says Aashi Sharma, Co-Founder, Director and Head of Growth, Edubull.
Without the necessary language and numerical skills, students will lack the basic needs to be able to teach themselves. Self-learning can get largely affected if the base of learning is shaky.
“Pedagogues and practitioners alike have agreed on the importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in shaping a child’s future. So, including pre-primary within the ambit of NEP is probably the biggest win of the NEP,” says Kusum Mohapatra, President, Sampark Foundation.
“Looking at age three to eight as a single unit or continuum with a clear focus on building a strong foundational literacy and numeracy skill at the end of that will simplify and mainstream children’s education and development,” she adds.