UNLOCKING NEW HORIZONS: EXPLORING JOB PROSPECTS IN THE NEP 2020 ERA

Abstract

The National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986, while progressive in many areas, had significant drawbacks regarding employment opportunities. It insufficiently integrated vocational education into the mainstream curriculum, leading to a gap between the skills taught and industry requirements. The lack of industry collaboration, outdated curricula, and minimal focus on practical skills and technology further hindered students' employability. Additionally, rigid educational structures and inadequate teacher training meant that students were often not prepared for the evolving job market, necessitating reforms in subsequent policies to address these gaps. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was framed to address the evolving educational and employment needs of India. With a focus on enhancing job opportunities, NEP 2020 emphasizes skill development, practical training, and industry collaboration. It introduces vocational education from an early stage, promotes flexible and multidisciplinary curricula, and integrates technology into learning. These reforms aim to equip students with relevant skills and knowledge, making them more competitive and adaptable in the global job market, and addressing the shortcomings of previous policies like NPE 1986. In this article, the employment related challenges faced by NPE, 1986 have been highlighted and how these issues have been proposed to be tackled by the existing NEP 2020 has been discussed. It also looks into the challenges and the potential benefits for our youth.