HOW NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY (NEP) 2020 CAN RESTRAIN SHADOW EDUCATION: AN EVALUATION OF POLICY PROVISIONS

Abstract

Shadow education, characterized by private tutoring outside formal schooling, has become a widespread phenomenon in India. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to address various systemic issues in the Indian education system, indirectly targeting the root causes of shadow education. NEP 2020 recognizes the prominence of shadow education and its implications on educational equity and quality. Consequently, the policy encourages the integration of technology in education, early childhood care and education, formative assessment, holistic development and flexible board exams for reducing the need of coaching among students. This paper critically examines how NEP 2020’s provisions may reduce shadow education by improving foundational literacy and numeracy, restructuring curricula, making enjoyable learning and enhancing teacher effectiveness.