NEP 2020 aims to prepare children for opportunities in a changing world. But ensuring its effective implementation may necessitate amendments to the RTE Act.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was launched in 2001 to achieve universal elementary education. It aimed at providing free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years, bridging gender and social gaps in education, and enhancing learning levels at scale. The programme was later supported by the 86th Amendment to the Indian Constitution (Article 21A)—a landmark step in the country’s commitment to education that enshrined the right to education (RTE) as a fundamental right. Finally in 2009, the passage of the RTE Act cast a legal obligation on the state and central governments to execute the fundamental rights of a child. It laid the constitutional groundwork for ensuring that every child in India has access to free and compulsory education. While the amendment provided the legal framework, the SSA was the operational arm that implemented the RTE on the ground and worked towards achieving the goals of universal access, retention, and improved learning outcomes.
Today, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promises the delivery of quality education, aiming not just for access, but also for every child to receive a well-rounded education with equitable learning opportunities. To achieve this goal, the policy proposes expanding access to education to include the age group of 3 to 6 years, establishing the learning foundation through a focus on literacy and numeracy, enhancing teacher education, and emphasising continuous professional development for all educators.