Shifting from burden of school bag to boon of learning: Modi on NEP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (August 1) said that the new National Education Policy 2020, announced Thursday, is about the spirit that reflects a shift from the burden of the school bag, which does not last beyond school, to boon of learning which helps for life.

Addressing students participating in the Smart India Hackathon 2020, he said that the new education policy has been framed keeping in mind the aspirations of the youth of the 21st century of India. He said systematic reforms are happening in India’s education system now and an attempt is being made to transform the intent and content of education.

“The 21st century is the era of knowledge. This is the time for increased focus on learning, research, innovation. This is exactly what India’s National Education Policy, 2020 does,” he said in his address. “We are focussing on the quality of education. Our attempts have been to make our education system the most advance and modern for students of our country.”

“India’s National Education Policy is about the spirit which reflects that we are shifting from the burden of the school bag, which does not last beyond school, to the boon of learning which helps for life, from simply memorising to critical thinking,” prime minister added.

The recently announced National Education Policy makes space for teaching in regional or home languages till Class 5, besides introducing a plethora of other reforms. “Languages of India will progress and develop further due to the changes brought in the education policy. This will not only increase India’s knowledge but will also increase its unity,” Modi said.

Modi said the education policy emphasises on making ‘job creators’ instead of ‘job seekers’. He said it emphasises on inter-disciplinary study which will ensure focus is on what student wants to learn.

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