The salient features of NEP 2020 were formulated based on the foundational pillars of Access, Quality, Equity, Affordability and Accountability. The revised policy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on remoulding India into a global knowledge superpower by making school education more holistic, multidisciplinary, flexible, suited to 21st-century requirements and aimed at bringing out the individual capabilities of each student. Some of the salient features of NEP 2020 are:

Ensuring universal access at all levels of school education

National Education Policy 2020 focuses on ensuring universal access to school education at all levels. Some of the ways to achieve this are:

• Infrastructure support
• Tracking the progress of students and their learning levels
• Facilitating different modes  of learning, including both formal and in-formal education modes
• Introduction of counsellors and well-trained social workers into the schooling system.
• Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for classes 3, 5 and 8 through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Open Schools.
• Secondary education programmes equivalent to classes 10 and 12.
• Vocational education courses/programmes from preschool to Grade 12; promotion of adult literacy and life-enrichment programmes.

Attaining Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)

One of the important salient features of NEP 2020 is recognising Foundational Literacy and Numeracy as an urgent and essential prerequisite to learning. NEP 2020 calls for building the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by MHRD. In this mission, the states will prepare an implementation plan to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary school students until grade 3 by 2025.

Reforms in school curricula and pedagogy

The new school curricula and pedagogy aim for the holistic development of students by equipping them with vital 21st-century skills, reducing curricular content to improve essential learning and critical thinking and emphasising experiential learning. This will allow students to have increased flexibility and choice of subjects. There will be no hard separations between arts and sciences, between vocational and academic streams, and between curricular and extracurricular activities.

In addition, vocational education will be introduced during Grades 6-8, with internship opportunities offered under a practice-based curriculum designed by NCERT while framing a new National Curriculum Framework for School (NCFSE).

Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

With the focus on Early Childhood Care and Education, the old 10+2 structure is replaced by a new 5+3+3+4 model to be in tune with the ages 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years. This is one of the main salient features of NEP 2020, which will bring the formerly uncovered age group of three-six years under formal school curriculum guidelines. This is because the age group of 3-8 years has been recognised globally as a critical  time for the development of the mental abilities of a child.

With New Education Policy (NEP) guidelines, LEAD’s revolutionary teaching methods and internationally benchmarked curriculum are playing a crucial role in enabling Indian schools to align  with the NEP education system.

Conceptual understanding

LEAD has introduced unique pedagogical approaches for different subjects to ensure students learn subjects as a skill and not gain just theoretical knowledge. LEAD’s classroom activities, interactions and routines make learning holistic and experiential.

Proficiency in languages and communication skills

LEAD offers strong language learning from early pre-primary years with English Language and General Awareness (ELGA) and Sampoorna Hindi programs. While in class, LEAD embraces activity-based learning to ensure students can easily lay hold of abstract subjects like Maths.

Inclusion of essential subjects and skills

LEAD has  introduced subjects such as Coding & Computational Skills (CCS) in the school curriculum itself. Rather than simply consuming content using technology, LEAD enables students to become creators by using technology to build apps, websites and games and thus become future-ready.

Regular formative assessments

LEAD-partner schools conduct assessments that target learning outcomes and competencies. With remedial and doubt-solving sessions, teachers at LEAD-partner schools understand students’ struggles and help them overcome their challenges.