Five years on, has NEP delivered what it promised?

India Today

5 days ago

Five years ago, India promised a revolution in education. But in 2025, are students, teachers and schools better off or just more confused?When the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was launched, it was hailed as a landmark moment in India's post-independence education history. With promises of sweeping reforms from foundational literacy to flexible college degrees the NEP aimed to make India's education system more inclusive, modern, and aligned with 21st-century goals.advertisementBut five years later, the results are mixed, the implementation patchy, and the impact uneven.WHAT WAS PROMISED IN 2020At its heart, the NEP aimed to overhaul every level of learning. Among its key promises were:Universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025More inclusive, play-based learning in early years (age 3–8)Mother tongue/regional language as medium of instruction till Grade 5New school structure: 5+3+3+4 instead of 10+2Reduced syllabus burden and focus on critical thinkingVocational training from Grade 6National Assessment Centre (PARAKH) to revamp board examsHigher Education Commission to replace UGC and AICTEMultiple exit options and academic credit bank in collegesPublic education spending to increase to 6% of GDPThe vision was clear. The ground reality? Far more complex.FIVE YEARS LATER: WHERE ARE WE REALLY?Despite the tall promises, only 16 out of 28 states and 8 UTs have partially implemented the NEP as of mid-2025.Foundational Literacy Mission (FLN)Target: 100% Grade 3 literacy by 2025Reality: Only 48% of Class 3 students in government schools met age-appropriate reading levels in ASER 2024Education SpendingNEP Target: 6% of GDPActual: 2.9% in 2024-25, per Union Budget analysisMultilingual EducationNEP pushed mother tongue till Class 5Result: English-medium pressure remains high in cities; rural schools report teacher shortages for regional language teachingHigher Education4-Year UG Programs: Implemented in 356 universitiesAcademic Credit Bank: Introduced, but usage remains under 12% of college studentsDropout Rates: Still high—nearly 17% at UG level (AISHE 2023)INSIDE CLASSROOMS: TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS SPEAK'We got new books, but no training.'Many government school teachers say they've been handed new curricula without adequate support.'They told us to make learning 'play-based' for Class 1, but didn't train us or give enough teaching materials,' says a government primary teacher in Uttar Pradesh.In tribal belts of Odisha and Jharkhand, teachers struggle to switch to local dialects as mandated, citing lack of bilingual textbooks and trained instructors.VOCATIONAL COURSES? STILL ON PAPERNEP's promise of 'bagless days' and vocational exploration in middle school has barely taken off. Most schools either don't offer these courses or club them into activity periods with no practical exposure.FOR STUDENTS, MORE FLEXIBILITY OR MORE CONFUSION?While NEP intended to reduce pressure on students and give them more choice, in many cases it has added layers of uncertainty.CBSE's split term system was rolled back after confusionGrading systems changed but lack of uniformity across boards remainsCareer counseling remains rare in most schools'My daughter had to choose new subjects in Class 9, but we had no idea what those changes meant for competitive exams,' says a parent from Bhopal.THE URBAN-RURAL DIVIDE IS WIDENINGUrban private schools have adopted parts of NEP, often branding them as 'progressive learning.'advertisementMeanwhile, rural schools still face digital gaps, shortage of subject teachers, and limited infrastructure.In many low-income schools, NEP implementation is more of a document than a reality.WHAT THE EXPERTS SAYDr. Anuradha Joshi, Education Policy Analyst: 'The NEP was visionary, but without financial and structural support, it risks becoming another lost opportunity.'R. Chidambaram, Principal of a Chennai-based school chain: 'The flexibility in subject choices is good but parents and students need much more guidance.'SO, WHO HAS BENEFITTED?Private ed-tech firms and publishers have boomed, offering 'NEP-aligned' products.Select state boards like Karnataka and Maharashtra have been more proactive.Students in elite schools may see some real benefit—critical thinking, coding, and new subjects are more available.But for the majority of students in India's 15 lakh government schools, the NEP remains a work in progress, not a revolution.As India marches toward its NEP 2030 goals of universal secondary education, full GER in higher ed, and global competitiveness, the road will depend on:More funding, especially for teacher training and rural infrastructureStronger centre-state coordinationTransparent, nationwide progress trackingClear communication with parents and studentsFive years after it began, the NEP 2020 stands at a crossroads. It promised a leap forward for Indian education. What it needs now is not just ambition—but accountability, funding, and honest review.Because for the next generation of Indian learners, half-reforms are not enough.- EndsMust Watch