Lok Sabha Question No. 46 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Board Exams
Ministry: Education
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 46

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## Board Exams

## 46. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the New Education  Policy;
- (b) whether the Government has included board exams for the classes of 3rd, 5th and 8th in the NEP and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has also included internship and vocational education from class 6th and if so, the details thereof ; and
- (d) whether the Government is aware that board exams and vocational education for the children is as a 'psychological attack' on them and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether it has been opposed by some of the States and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a): The salient features of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 are as follows:
1. Ensure Universal Access at All Levels of schooling from pre-primary school to Grade 12
2. Early Childhood Care and Education:
3. Attaining Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
4. Introduction of  New Curricular and Pedagogical Structure
5. Reduction in curriculum content to enhance essential learning and critical thinking
6. Holistic development of learners
7. Multilingualism and the power of language
8. Transforming assessment for student development
9. Support for gifted students/students with special talents
10. Equitable and inclusive education
11. Reforming Teacher Education recruitment and their continuous Professional Development
12. Efficient resourcing and effective governance through school complexes/clusters
13. Standard-setting and Accreditation for School Education
14. Vocational Education
15. Adult education and lifelong learning

(b): NEP 2020 states that, to track progress throughout the school years, and not just at the end of Grades 10 and 12 - for the benefit of students, parents, teachers, principals, and the entire schooling system in planning improvements to schools and teaching-learning processes - all students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which will be conducted by the appropriate authority. The Grade 3 examination, in particular, would test basic literacy, numeracy, and other foundational skills. The  results  of  school  examinations  will  be  used  only  for  developmental  purposes  of  the  school education system and for continuous monitoring and improvement of the schooling system.

(c): NEP 2020 states that every student will take a fun course, during Grades 6-8, that gives a survey and  hands-on  experience  of  a  sampling  of  important  vocational  crafts,  such  as  carpentry,  electric work, metal work, gardening, pottery making, etc., as decided by States and local communities and as mapped  by  local  skilling  needs.  The  policy  also  aims  to  overcome  the  social  status  hierarchy associated  with  vocational  education  and  requires  integration  of  vocational  education  programmes into mainstream education in all education institutions in a phased manner. Beginning with vocational exposure at early ages in middle and secondary school, quality vocational education will be integrated smoothly  into  higher  education.  It  will  ensure  that  every  child  learns  at  least  one  vocation  and  is exposed to several more. This would lead to emphasizing the dignity of labour and importance of various vocations involving /Indian arts and artisanship.

(d): The NEP 2020 aims to redesign the Board exams to encourage holistic development and provide flexibility  of  subjects  and  test  primarily  core  competencies  rather  that  rote  learning  to  make  them stress-free.

(e):      The  policy  has  been  formulated  after  a  very  detailed  consultative  process,  unprecedented  in depth and scale. Consultation involved over 2 lakh suggestions from 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 6600

Blocks, 6000 ULBs, 676 Districts. This Ministry had initiated a collaborative, inclusive, and  highly participatory  consultation  process  from  January  2015.  Education  Dialogue  with  MPs  (AP,  Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka & Odisha) and Special Meeting of CABE was also organised on 21.09.2019. The Draft National Education Policy 2019 was uploaded on this Ministry's website  and  at  'MyGov  Innovate'  portal  eliciting  views/suggestions/comments  of  stakeholders, including public. Valuable inputs were incorporated in the final document by the committee.

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