7 highlights from PM Modi’s address on NEP 2020 first anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the completion of one year of the new National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP approved by the Union Cabinet last year replaced the National Policy on Education framed in 1986. Here are the Highlights of PM Modi’s address:

1. Academic Bank of Credit for multiple entry and exit options

Under the ABC, students can leave a degree or course and get a corresponding certification and re-join studies after a certain time and be able to start from where they had left. National Academic Credit Bank would be a digital/virtual/ online entity to be established and managed by the MHRD/ UGC. NAC-Bank may function like a Commercial Bank with students as account holders and customers to whom the bank provides a variety of services including credit verification / degree authentication. NAC-Bank will be linked to the National Academic Repository (NAD). NAC-Bank may provide deposit accounts to all the students who are studying in any recognised Higher Education Institute (HEI). The academic credits earned by a student in the system can be automatically credited to his/her account and after accumulation of credits to a certain level, a student can accrue and redeem the credits for any academic program at any convenient time. Here, the academic programme is an educational programme leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate.

2. Engineering courses in 5 regional languages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a total of 14 engineering colleges across 8 states will offer engineering degrees in regional languages. “This includes Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali — from the new academic year (2020-21),” he said.

3. Indian sign language now a subject

“Indian Sign language has been designated as a subject now. Students can opt to study this. It will promote Indian sign language and will help differently-abled people,” said Narendra Modi. To aid the process, 1200 educational video programmes (for Class 1 to 12) have been made in Indian Sign Language. This will be available on the government’s portal diksha.gov.in.

4. Vidya Pravesh program

Under this program, remote areas will have playschools. The scheme will prepare young students for school and help them learn basics like numbers, colours and alphabets.

5. SAFAL assessment framework for CBSE students

According to the CBSE, SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analyzing Learning Levels) will be used to assess the progress of foundational skills and basic learning outcomes/ competencies among students. SAFAL, as a diagnostic assessment, will provide developmental feedback to schools and teachers to improve teaching-learning without additional examination pressure on students. It has been designed to help students, parents, and teachers to track learning progress throughout the school years and not just in Grades 10 and 12.  SAFAL results will not be used in any manner by schools for the promotion of students to the next grade.

6. ‘AI For All’ initiative

This initiative has been launched with the purpose of creating a basic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) for every citizen in the country. This programme is driven by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Ministry of Education, and Intel India. The programme aims to introduce AI to one million citizens in its first year.

7. National Education Technology Forum (NETF)

NETF provides a platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, administration. Through the technology forum, new technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, smart boards, computing devices, adaptive computer testing for student development and other forms of educational software and hardware will be integrated into all levels of education to improve classroom process, support teachers’ professional development, enhance educational access for disadvantaged groups and streamline educational planning, administration and management.