AN OVERVIEW OF NEP 2020 WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) in India aims to transform the country's education system, from elementary school to university, by making it more comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and flexible. The policy focuses on vocational education, which has faced challenges due to limited acceptance and lack of clear pathways for students. The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) was implemented in 2013 to address this issue. A National Education Technology Forum (NETF) will be established to facilitate the use of technology in educational settings. Vocational education programs will be integrated into mainstream education gradually over the next ten years, with institutions of higher learning and schools gradually incorporating vocational education into their curricula. By 2025, at least half of all students enrolled in schools and postsecondary institutions will have the opportunity to participate in vocational education. A detailed action plan with specific goals and timetables will be prepared, and short-term certificate programs in various competencies, including soft skills, will be granted to higher education institutions. The policy also discusses the possibility of providing students with additional opportunities for work-integrated training and creating further apprenticeships.