National Education Policy 2020 and Online and Digital Education - A Brief Review

Abstract

It is well known fact that a well-defined, visionary and futuristic education policy is a must for every country because education is the key driver of economic and social progress. Taking into account their respective traditions and culture, different countries have adopted varied education systems. Recently Government of India announced its New Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which intended to transform our nation sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high quality education to all. It is a welcome step, which will bring about a paradigm shift India's education system and will transform it into a modern, progressive, and equitable one. New circumstances and realities require new initiatives. The recent rise in epidemics and pandemics necessitates that we are ready with alternative modes of quality education whenever and wherever traditional and in-person modes of education are not possible. In this regard, the National Education Policy 2020 recognizes the importance of leveraging the advantages of technology while acknowledging its potential risks and dangers. It calls for carefully designed and appropriately scaled pilot studies to determine how the benefits of online/digital education can be reaped while addressing or mitigating the downsides. In the meantime, the existing digital platforms and ongoing ICT-based educational initiatives must be optimized and expanded to meet the current and future challenges in providing quality education for all.