New Education Policy Draft: A ‘5+3+3+4’ System, 4 Yrs of Undergrad

The draft policy also proposes extending the free & compulsory schooling policy from pre-school till Class 12.

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(Photo: Reuters)

The draft National Education Policy 2019 (NEP), which has now been uploaded on HRD Ministry website, envisages a "5+3+3+4" system of education, instead of the traditional 10+2 system.

Under the new system, comprising school and pre-school education, the first five years would be the foundational stage (three years of pre-primary school, followed by grades 1 and 2), after which would come the preparatory stage (grades 3, 4 and 5), the middle stage (grades 6, 7 and 8) and then the secondary stage (grades 9, 10, 11 and 12).

"Each year of the Secondary Stage will be divided into 2 semesters, for a total of 8 semesters. Each student would take 5 to 6 subjects each semester. There will be some essential common subjects for all, while simultaneously there will be a great flexibility in selecting elective courses (including in the arts, vocational subjects, and physical education) so that all students can expand their horizons as they see fit and explore their individual interests and talents," the policy draft states.

“A system of modular Board Examinations – restructured to test only core concepts, principles, critical thinking, and other higher-order skills in each subject – will help to pin down the common courses, while great flexibility will be offered for remaining courses. The notions of “higher secondary” or “junior college” will be eliminated; Grades 11 and 12 will be considered an integral part of the secondary stage.”

Draft National Education Policy 2019

Four Years of Undergrad

The draft of the new education policy also suggests undergraduate honours courses lasting for four years instead of three. A student can also choose to leave after two years with a diploma or after three years with a graduate degree (without honours), reported The Telegraph.

Free Schooling Upto Class 12

The draft policy also proposes extending the free and compulsory schooling policy right from pre-school till Class 12. Earlier, this provision under the Right to Education was only available from Class 1 to Class 8.

In addition to the popular mid-day meal, the draft also suggests providing a "nutritious" breakfast for pre-school and primary school students.

(With inputs from News18 and The Telegraph.)