Lok Sabha Question No. 2329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-08
Subject: New Education Policy
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2329 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.07.2019

## New Education Policy

## 2329.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  New  Education  Policy  (NEP)  in  the country;

(b) if so, the main objectives/changes have drafted in NEP therefor;

(c) whether the new school system will be discovery, audio-visual based, friendly education system;

(d) whether 2/3 years degree courses will also be converted to 4 years degree course thereto; and

(e) if so, the details and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a)  to  (e)  :  The  Government  has  undertaken  a  detailed  exercise  in  formulating  a  New Education  Policy  and  the  Committee  for  the  Draft  National  Education  Policy  under  the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan has submitted its report to the Ministry on 31 st May 2019.  Several  reform  measures  have  been  proposed  in  the  Draft  NEP  2019,  so  that  all students have equitable access to quality education across the country.

The  Draft  NEP  2019  proposes  that  for  3-8  year  olds  (Foundational  Stage)  -  a flexible,  multi-level,  play-based,  activity-based,  and discovery-based  system  of  learning  is followed. It also proposes that school complexes can house shared facilities and equipment at  the  secondary  school  that  cannot  be  provided  separately  to  each  individual  school.  It states that audio-video systems with a portable generator can be taken around from school to school. Similarly, a secondary school may have a good laboratory, musical instruments, and playgrounds with sports equipment that students from the pre-primary, primary, and upper primary schools in the complex may be given access to on a regular basis.

The Draft NEP 2019 also proposes that the undergraduate degree will move towards a strong liberal education approach, and can be of either three- or four-year duration. Higher Education  Institutions  (HEIs)  may  offer  multiple  exit  options  within  this  period,  with appropriate  certification,  such  as  an  advanced  diploma  in  a  discipline  or  field  (including vocational  and professional  areas) after  completing  two  years  of study  or  a diploma  after completing one  year. The three-year programme will lead to a Bachelors degree. A fouryear duration  programme  will offer the full possibilities for a transformed liberal undergraduate  education  programme,  and  shall  be  called  a  Liberal  Arts  programme, resulting  in  a  Bachelor  of  Liberal  Arts  (BLA)  or  Bachelor  of  Liberal  Education  (BLE) degree with Research.

At this stage, the draft NEP 2019 has been uploaded on MHRD's website and also at innovate.mygov.in platform to elicit suggestions/comments from all stakeholders including the  public, Government of India Ministries and State Governments. The Government will finalize  the  National  Education  Policy  only  after  considering  the  inputs/suggestions  and comments of all stakeholders.

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