Amid an aggresAsive promotion of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by the Union government, Tamil Naduon Wednesday set in motion the process of evolving its own education policy.
The order for constituting a 13-member panel, set to draft the policy keeping in mind the state’s youth, comes in the wake of a May 29 TOI report about the announcement remaining on paper. With Tamil Nadu making clear its opposition to some key NEP features including three language formula, common exams for Classes III, V and VIII and introduction of four-year degree courses, the panel will have its task cutout in framing a distinct policy.
It may suggest retaining the existing 10+2 system against the 5+3+3+4 system proposed in the NEP. “The 10+2 curriculum may continue as it retains most students in school till they complete Class X. Restructuring school education and creating multiple levels in schools will lead to dropouts in each level. It may also recommend continuing 10+2 system with additional focus on early childhood care and education,” a panel member told TOI.
In the present curriculum, children aged 3 to 6 are not covered. Conducting common exams for Classes III, V and VIII, as proposed in NEP, may lead to dropouts. “Admission to degree programmes should be based on Class XII marks instead of entrance exams. Whether or not to adopt a four-year degree will be debated as there are positives and negatives to it,” he added.
Experts, however, wonder if the panel can make recommendations that could come in conflict with directions of national bodies such as University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). “The state panel can review the National Education Policy 2020 and frame guidelines for its implementation based on local needs.
We cannot have two different policies. It will lead to isolation of Tamil Nadu students,” Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said. “Studying in different school curriculum system than the rest of the country will affect the employment and higher education opportunities of Tamil Nadu students,” he said. Another member, however, said,there won’t be a problem, “If we set our standards higher than the NEP. ”
Professor Anil Sadgopal, former member of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) and former dean,faculty of education, Delhi University,welcomed formation of a panel to draft SEP, saying, “We can not have one policy for an entire country. ”The panel, headed by retired chief justice of Delhi high court Justice D Murugesan,has a one year tenure. “
It should take inputs from educationists,subject experts and suggest reforms aimed at developing modern, technology driven and updated curriculum frameworks for earlychildhood care and education, school education, college education teacher education and adult education in an integrated manner in keeping with the fast changing global education employment landscape,”school education secretary Kakarla Usha saidin the order
POINTS TO PONDER
Will SEP be an alternative to NEP or include important features of NEP?
What will be the powers of the state when it comes to professional education like BE, BTech which are governed by separate regulatory authorities?
Can state universities which are autonomous bodies with separate academic councils decide against UGC regulations?
Will having a separate edu policy or curriculum system lead to isolation of TN students?
Will SEP accept an academic bank of credits (ABC)? Can the state retain the affiliation system of colleges when the NEP proposes to abolish it in 15 years?
What are the steps to be taken to make TN graduates employable when they pass out of colleges?
