National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and the Role of Teachers

National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of India. NEP, 2020 lays particular emphasis on the development of the creative potential of each individual. It is based on the principle that education must develop not only the cognitive capabilities but also social, ethical, and emotional capacities and dispositions.

This book explains and examines various aspects of the education system at different levels, with special reference to India. It particularly focuses on the role and attitude of teachers in imparting economically and socially relevant education. A case study in this regard also forms part of the book.

Dr. Nishi Tyagi is currently Assistant Professor, School of Education, Sharda University, Greater Noida. With a Ph.D. in Education and Sanskrit Literature from CCS University, Meerut, she has a diverse academic and professional career spanning over 15 years. She has also made vital contribution in the Development of Handbook for Teachers Working in Special Training Centres by Department of Elementary Education, NCERT, New Delhi. Dr. Nishi has extensive experience in designing curriculum and conducting professional development programmes on teacher education at the national and international level. She has authored and edited several books and published numerous research papers in reputed journals on multi-dimensional issues pertaining to education. Her research interests include educational management, language education, teacher education, and psychology of education.

Dr. Akanksha Srivastava is presently Associate Professor, School of Education, Sharda University, Greater Noida. Apart from a Doctorate in Education from Nagpur University, she also holds M.A. degrees in Education and English, and M.Sc. in Anthropology. She has been associated with the teaching profession for many years and worked at universities in Dehradun, Jammu and Nagpur. Her works have been presented and published in the form of papers in various reputed journals. She has delivered many invited lectures and acted as a resource person in various workshops and conferences. Her fields of interest include educational psychology and public communication.

About the Book

Education is one of the major life-processes of human beings. Just as there are certain indispensable vital processes of life in the biological sense, so also education may be considered a vital process in a social sense. Education is indispensable to normal living. Without education, the individual would be unqualified for meaningful existence.

Education is essential for everyone. It is the level of education that helps people earn respect and recognition. It is a vital part of life both personally and socially. Education is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society, and promoting national development. Providing universal access to quality education is the key to India’s continued ascent, and leadership on the global stage in terms of economic growth, social justice and equality, and national integration.

Teachers are an extremely important aspect of any society for a number of reasons. Teachers educate the youth of society who, in turn, become the leaders of the next generation of people. Teachers, through teaching, mould the minds of children and young people in their most impressionable years of life. Things which students learn from their teachers are most likely to stay with them, in one form or the other, for the rest of their lives.

National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of India. NEP, 2020 lays particular emphasis on the development of the creative potential of each individual. It is based on the principle that education must develop not only cognitive capacities but also social, ethical, and emotional capacities and dispositions.

This book explains and examines various aspects of education system at different levels with special reference to India. It particularly focuses on the role and attitude of teachers in imparting economically and socially relevant education. A case study in this regard also forms part of the book.

About the Authors

Dr. Nishi Tyagi is currently Assistant Professor, School of Education, Sharda University. With a Ph.D. degree in Education and Sanskrit Literature from CCS University, Meerut, she has a diverse academic and professional career spanning 15 years. She has contributed to the Development of Handbook for Teachers Working in Special Training Centres, Department of Elementary Education, NCERT, New Delhi. She has extensive experience of designing curriculum and conducting professional development programmes on teacher education at national and international levels. She has authored and edited several books and published numerous research papers in reputed journals on multi- dimensional issues on education. Her research interests include educational management, language education, teacher education, and psychology of education.

Dr. Akanksha Srivastava is presently Associate Professor, School of Education, Sharda University, Greater Noida. Apart from a Doctorate in Education from Nagpur University, she also holds M.A. degrees in Education and English, and M.Sc. in Anthropology. She has been a part of teaching profession for many years and worked at Universities in Dehradun, Jammu and Nagpur. Her works have been presented and published in the form of papers in various journals. She has delivered many invited lectures and acted as resource person in various workshops and conferences. Her fields of interest include educational psychology and public communication.

Preface

Since the dawn of Independence in 1947, efforts are being made in India to raise the standard of living of the masses. The success of such efforts, along with other factors, depends to a great extent on the quality of manpower which, in turn, is influenced by the standard of education in the country. India’s future depends on the quantity and quality of education.

Through education, man tries to seek new ideas and new ways of life. It is again through education that he promotes his intelligence and adds to his knowledge to move in the world for good or evil. Thus, he attempts to understand himself in relation to the world around him and to transmit the knowledge gained to the succeeding generations. His life in the complex world is governed not only by the biological process, but also by a social process.

Education is one of the major life-processes of human beings. Just as there are certain indispensable vital processes of life in the biological sense, so also education may be considered a vital process in a social sense. Education is indispensable to normal living. Without education, the individual would be unqualified for meaningful existence.

Education is essential for everyone. It is the level of education that helps people earn respect and recognition. It is a vital part of life both personally and socially.

The importance of education for the development of a country must not be underestimated because education is the tool which alone can inculcate national and cultural values and liberate people from false prejudice, ignorance and representations. Education provides the required knowledge, technique, skill and information and enables us to understand the rights and duties towards our family, society and the motherland at large. Education expands our vision and outlook, provokes the spirit of healthy competition and a desire to fight ignorance, injustice, corruption, violence, disparity and communalism, the greatest hazards to the progress of the nation.

Without education, life would be disastrous and detrimental Consequently, governments around the world are trying their best to make education universal and accessible for everyone, particularly the poor and the disabled. There are still regions and places where the inhabitants are uneducated and unaware of what is happening in the world, in the country and in their region.

A profession is important for individuals to carry on their life and for their happiness. It also indirectly affects one’s lifestyle, social prestige and economic status. A profession also has a vital role in satisfying one’s psycho-social needs. Those who have chosen teaching as a profession should possess the necessary abilities and capabilities to do justice to their choice.

Teachers are an extremely important aspect of any society for a number of reasons. Teachers educate the youth of society who, in turn, become the leaders of the next generation of people. Teachers, through teaching, mould the minds of children and young people in their most impressionable years of life. Things which students learn from their teachers are most likely to stay with them, in one form or the other, for the rest of their lives. Hence, teachers certainly have a significant mark on the development of young minds who, if properly trained, can be responsible and productive members of the society.

Teachers are the key factor of an education system. Besides being equipped with universal culture and professional knowledge, teachers are also expected to have positive attitude towards their profession. A positive attitude is essential to maintain a healthy classroom environment.

National Education Policy, 2020 has accorded prime of place to teachers who shape the future of our children and, therefore, the future of our nation.

NOIDA

Nishi Tyagi

Akanksha Srivastava