Exploring Students’ Perspectives on NEP 2020: A Comparative Study Across Selected School and Higher Education Levels

Abstract

A country's education system holds significant importance in the country's social and economic development. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to address critical educational issues and re-orient the system to becoming in-sync with current world trends. NEP 2020 makes significant curriculum reforms from conventional knowledge-based learning and teaching systems, favoring experiential learning systems. It allows learners to choose what they want to study without being bound by school curriculum timetables. Another important concept under the NEP 2020 is redesigning the schooling system: where students are prepared to get skills and knowledge suitable for the current society. In addition, the policy brings a huge shift by guaranteeing provision of education in regional languages to allow the students to realize their education in the local dialect, and at the same time, be closer to the Indian tradition and ethos. This aspect significantly develops a generation at par with world-class standards without losing cultural identity. Significant components of NEP 2020 include another key area called the Use of Technology in Education. Introducing courses for students in their regional languages has been an interesting facet of the NEP 2020. This paper focuses on the achievement of NEP 2020 on access, curriculum changes, and trainer preparedness, highlighting the possibility of producing a better digital, skilled, and rounded workforce for the 21st century by examining the understanding and perception of the student community across selected states.