The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has made several changes to the draft National Education Policy (NEP), which includes altering the provision to extend the Right to Education (RTE) Act up to Class 12 and incorporating three years of early childhood education. The earlier NEP came into existence in 1986, underwent revision in 1992, and the most recent draft was provided for public feedback in June, after being submitted by a panel led by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan.
The Implications of National Tutors Programme (NTP) and Remedial Instructional Aides Programme (RIAP)
Initially, the draft policy proposed the introduction of a National Tutors Programme (NTP) and Remedial Instructional Aides Programme (RIAP) but the final NEP has modified these suggestions. These programs targeted basic reading and mathematics skills enhancement. NTP would have engaged the best-performing students in each school as tutors during school hours to assist students in need while the RIAP was designed as a 10-year project to deploy instructors, particularly women, from local communities to support students who lag behind. However, the finalized NEP has preferred to stick with one-on-one peer tutoring.
Restructuring the Higher Education System
An interesting proposition in the draft NEP was the birth of a new three-tier institutional system for higher education by 2030. This structure would have classified all institutions as research universities, teaching universities, or undergraduate colleges. The final policy though, abandoned this hierarchical structure for classification based on primary function— either research or teaching.
Affiliation Deadlines Dropped
The draft policy also suggested that by 2032, all presently affiliated colleges must mature into autonomous degree-granting colleges or fully merge with their respective university or even transform into a university. The final version, however, has removed this strict deadline and merely insists on progressively phasing out the system of affiliated colleges.
The Six-point Roadmap for Implementation
Complementing the changes is a six-point roadmap laid down by the MHRD for the policy’s implementation. A comprehensive review of the implementation status is planned for 2030. The policy calls for phased execution, prioritising the most critical points first and timely infusion of necessary resources at central and state levels.
| Key Differences | Draft NEP | Final NEP |
|---|---|---|
| NTP and RIAP | Proposed | Tweaked |
| Higher Education System | New three-tier structure | Classification based on function |
| Affiliation Deadlines | Strict 2032 deadline | Deadline removed |
Careful Analysis of the Linkages between Multiple Parallel Implementation Steps
A strong emphasis is placed on careful planning, joint monitoring, and collaborative implementation between the Centre and states due to education being a concurrent subject. The policy encompasses a thorough analysis and review of linkages between various parallel implementation steps to ensure effective dovetailing of all initiatives.
