HOW NEP 2020 IS SHAPING LEARNING IN J&K

LANGUAGE IS ALSO A KEY AREA OF FOCUS IN THE NEW POLICY. NEP 2020 RECOMMENDS THAT THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY YEARS, SHOULD BE THE CHILD'S MOTHER TONGUE OR LOCAL LANGUAGE. IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR, THIS MEANS MORE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN KASHMIRI, DOGRI, URDU, OR LADAKHI, DEPENDING ON THE REGION.

- LUBNA BASHIR

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is one of the most important changes made to the Indian education system in decades. It is not just a new rulebook but a vision for the future, a future where learning is more flexible, creative, and connected to real life.

For a region like Jammu and Kashmir, where students face many unique challenges due to geography, infrastructure, and socio-political issues, the NEP has brought a fresh wave of hope and possibility. The changes brought by this policy are slowly but surely reshaping the way children learn, teachers teach, and schools function across the area.

One of the biggest changes introduced by NEP 2020 is the emphasis on early childhood care and education (ECCE). Previously, formal schooling in Jammu and Kashmir would typically begin around age six, which meant many children were entering school without the basic skills needed for learning. NEP 2020 encourages learning to start from age three, focusing on the foundational years through play-based, activity based education. Anganwadi centres and pre-schools are being upgraded to become more child friendly and better equipped. This is especially important in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir where access to early education has been limited. By investing in young learners from the start, the policy is helping to build stronger educational foundations that can support long term growth.

Instead of just focusing on exams and memorization, students are being encouraged to explore, ask questions, and engage in extracurricular activities. This change has the potential to reduce dropout rates and improve interest in learning, especially among younger children who may otherwise feel lost in the traditional system.