Why key NEP reforms are failing on the ground

Some of the reforms have led to low-quality courses, created confusion and further burdened systems already stretched by infrastructure and staff shortages

- Shradha Chettri

Gaurav Kishore, in third year of BSc programme with chemistry at Delhi University's St. Stephen's College, is among the first batch of students who will have the option of staying on for another year, as part of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP). A key reform brought by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the FYUP is being implemented from 2025-26.

Kishore, however, doesn't plan to stay on, citing “lack of clarity on the structure” and “distinctly defined curriculum” as reasons. Even faculty members feel that just about 10% of the present batch will remain for another year.

While FYUP, with multiple entry and exit, was one of the first reforms universities adopted, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced new policies or revised existing ones at a stupendous rate. At an event to unveil the draft policy for teacher recruitment, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had approvingly said that the higher education regulator has introduced around 45 regulations over the past three years.

However, this bombardment has only added to the burden on the overloaded staff and strained infrastructure of universities facing shortage of funds.

And so, universities have been putting off the launch of dual-degree and twinning programmes, lateral entry, credit transfer of online courses, and introduction of Indian Knowledge System (IKS) - to list just a few of the dozens of new initiatives.

Debraj Mookerjee, associate professor of English at DU's Ramjas College, summarised the NEP and the regulations thus: “It is aimed towards standardisation across the country. However, there cannot be a centralised model. This obsessive standardisation is leading to lowering of standards. But diversity is enriching and [that is] what is needed.”

Plus, the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for central university admissions has thrown academic calendars off-track across institutions.

The four-year problem