NEP 2020: What will change for private schools with the new education policy?

The new National Education Policy (NEP) has made education free from the age of 3 till the age of 18, thus extending the scope of the RTE. Here's what private schools have to say about the policy.

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The new National Education Policy (NEP) has made education free from the age of 3 till the age of 18, thus extending the scope of the RTE. Here's what private schools have to say about the policy.(Photo: PTI)

The New Education Policy (NEP) was passed by the cabinet on Wednesday and questions on implementation have begun to surface. The change in the education structure of India will begin at the foundation level, right from preschool education and school-level learning. Private schools believe that the policy is a welcome step but that it is directional in nature. They believe that the NEP 2020 will not be enforced and that schools could have options to choose which aspects to implement.

RTE: Free education for ages 3 to 18

The Right to Education Act (RTE) calls for free and compulsory education for the 6-14 years age-group. Since school learning will now begin from age 3, the scope of the RTE Act will now be from age 3 up to the age of 18 years.

Availability of free and compulsory quality education for classes 9-12 will also be made an integral part of the RTE Act in 2020.

On autonomy of private schools

Presently, 47.1 percent of children go to private schools, which is nearly half of the children in the country.

Ashish Dhawan, CEO And Founder of Central Square Foundation said, "The policy recognised that almost half the children in India go to private schools. It does talk about the fact that we need greater autonomy- which is a light and tight regulation. Take some of the principles and come with the model code to be able to make a model of governance for private schools."

"It is a guiding document and isn't too specific with regards to private schools per se. Specifically, how much disclosure, autonomy can these schools be rid of licence raj that they face? The policy needs to be more specific on these issues,” he said.

Change in structural power in education system

Experts say that the three things that private schools would need to watch out for are -- the SSSA (state school standard authority) as a licensing authority, more focus on text books in the era of multimodal learning , and too much focus on multilingualism to the detriment of other things that are important. "What private schools need to watch out for are the structural changes -- where they talk about separating powers of the government between the regulator, operator and policy maker,” said Sumeet Mehta, Founder and CEO, LEAD School.

“We have seen in the past that when any government authority has a licensing authority which is under the SSSA, it creates rent-seeking mechanism,” he said.

“So, if one has to start a school through the licensing authority, that is going to be problematic for private schools. Also, in a multimodal world, there is too much focus on textbook learning,” he added.

Focus on mother tongue as medium of instruction

Springdales School Principal Amita Vattal said that the new education policy was all about 21st century learning. "Coaching centres will go out of equation by this policy. Nothing wrong in restructuring of classes from preschool onwards as the children will evolve,” she said.

“The regional language learning will have no issues with the state schools. But CBSE should review it for the metros where kids come from all over the country. They will need to find a way out,” she said.

“The NEP is making it clear that there is not any forced learning -- everything would be optional,” she added. "The policy uses the words ‘wherever possible’. It will be legislated -- I can assure that. This gives parents and schools the power to choose the medium of instruction. The policy clause is directional in nature and not mandatory," said LEAD School CEO Sumeet Mehta. Experts also believe that while the medium of instruction could be regional or mother tongue, ultimately parents would be the ones deciding things in the perspective of their kids’ future and their jobs. This will in turn trickle down into schools as the demand.

"There is a difference between English as a language and English as a medium of instruction. Under the three-language formula, English has been allowed as a language and there is no change there,” said Vohra.

“What they are saying is that equal emphasis needs to be given to the local language and mother tongue which was not being given. There has been political pressure to bring back the eminence of Indian languages. And they have definitely given in to that,” he added. “Ultimately what the parents feel would help kids in future with respective jobs is what is going to trickle down into schools -- one cannot escape that,” said Sumeet Mehta.

Parents want to be larger stakeholders in education

Parents believe they need to be involved as larger stakeholders -- a concern that has not been addressed in the new National Education Policy. Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, National President AIPA, said, "Merely putting it in the policy will not work as the act has to be amended. The burden will marginally increase on the state governments as they will share the responsibility to fund these children under the RTE along with the central government.” “After this policy, government schools will not be able to charge any fee till class 12th. It is good that school education in public schools will be completely free,” he added.