The Government of India proposed a new education policy on 29 July 2020. It was the first major overhaul of the Indian Education Sector in 34 years.
The five pillars of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These are :-
- Access
- Equity
- Quality
- Affordability
- Accountability
The Government of India (GoI) introduced the National Education Policy 2020 to reform the Indian education system to make it more inclusive and flexible, focusing on learners’ holistic development. The vision of the National Education Policy encompasses several key objectives:
Revamping the Curriculum: The National Education Policy (NEP) focuses on introducing a curriculum to facilitate critical thinking, creativity, and life skills among learners. As a result, it moves the education system away from rote learning.
Holistic Development: The new education policy focuses on the holistic development of students by providing them with personalized learning experiences. Moreover, it makes the education system more inclusive and quality-oriented by ensuring mental and physical well-being, not just academic achievements.
NAAC to introduce a new era in Higher Education Accreditation
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is introducing a new era for higher education in India with significant reforms in its accreditation process. NAAC announced these changes in July 2024 to overhaul how institutions are evaluated and accredited. Moreover, it seeks to enhance transparency, efficiency, and quality in the Indian higher education system.
In an exciting development for higher education in India, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) launched a revolutionary binary accreditation system. This shift marks a significant change in the evaluation process in colleges and universities across India. As a result, it enhances transparency and improves educational standards.
Reforms proposed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
1. Cost Implications – The cost of obtaining ISO 9001 certification can be high, particularly for enterprises in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Costs vary greatly depending on firm size, complexity, and the exact ISO standard being followed. In the UAE, costs range from a few thousand to several thousand dollars, which include consultant fees, audit fees, and continuous maintenance of the quality management system. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the overall cost might reach several lakh rupees, including gap analysis, internal audits, and consulting expenses.
2. Time Commitment – It usually months from the time of initial implementation to registration to obtain ISO certification, therefore it’s not an easy procedure. In accordance with the selected standard, this time is needed to create and operationalize the relevant procedures and processes. Businesses wanting faster certification to fulfil market needs may find the lengthy time commitment to be a significant problem.
3. Training Requirements – Personalized training that meets the unique requirements of the company is essential for achieving an ISO certification. Training programs in the UAE address diverse organizational roles, such as employees and managers, and cover a range of standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001. Even though it takes a lot of time and money to make sure every employee is properly trained, certification success and continuous compliance depend on it.
4. Continuous Improvement – ISO standards imply a commitment to continuous improvement, which requires ongoing updates and adjustments to processes and systems. This continuous need might be difficult since it demands organizations to continually invest in process improvements and employee training to increase quality and efficiency. Maintaining paperwork and records of training activities is also essential for showing compliance during audits.
What Is the Binary Accreditation System?
The new binary system aims to simplify the accreditation process by categorizing institutions into two distinct categories: accredited and not accredited. However, this contrasts sharply with the previous system, which used a complex grading scale to reflect the varying levels of quality among institutions.
The Path Forward
The recent reforms by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) represent a transformative shift in higher education accreditation in India. NAAC simplifies evaluation, categorizing institutions as either accredited or not accredited by adopting a binary accreditation system. The changes enhance transparency and focus on essential quality indicators such as infrastructure, faculty qualifications, and student support services. Moreover, it streamlines various processes to emphasize outcome-based assessments by prioritizing tangible educational results over traditional input metrics.
