English Education Key for Higher Studies: Leading Academician

The implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 pan-India has paved the way for holistic and creative improvements to the country’s and Goa’s education system. ItsGoa in conversation with Auria Fernandes, Principal of Sharada Mandir School, Kadamba, offers her views on her school’s integration of NEP 2020 with the in-house curriculum and the advantages given by the policy to Goa. She also says that education in the English language is critical for higher studies in India and abroad.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 heralds a paradigm shift in India’s education system, modernising a three-decade-old pan-Indian educational philosophy.

The policy’s crux lies in its focus on critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving over rote learning for students, according to Ms. Auria Fernandes, Principal of Sharada Mandir School, Kadamba, who says that such educational techniques have already been ingrained into the ethos of the school she heads. “Our collective vision is to make Sharada Mandir School, Kadamba, a place where the holistic development of all students is key and all school policies are framed and implemented in alignment with the NEP 2020 to attain this goal,” says Principal Auria Fernandes.

All teaching faculty at the school were made to compulsorily attend the NEP workshops conducted by the Government of Goa, with their learning incorporated into the teaching process as per the ICSE norms. The staff were also briefed on the NEP 2020 by Mr. Kishore Shah, managing trustee of the Growth and Development Platform (GDP) Foundation, to garner a richer understanding of the policy’s nuances.

The NEP 2020 is helping bring Goa’s school education sector on par with national and international standards, she says. “The Goa government’s initiative of conducting workshops for the foundational stage is a great step in this direction. These workshops were excellent and helped to bring teachers of different schools together in an interaction that will benefit students,” adds Ms. Fernandes.

According to Ms. Fernandes, the quantifiable effects of the NEP 2020 will take at least 10 years to be assessed. However, she has a vision for the systemic changes that she is working towards to see come to fruition. “The ability to innovate and apply their understanding of concepts to solve issues will prepare students to contribute to the global workforce, tackle social problems and work towards the betterment of humanity. It could also lead to a reduction of exam anxiety,” says Ms. Fernandes.

Therefore, regular follow-up support for the programme is necessary, she asserts. Ms. Fernandes suggests the establishment of a dedicated research cell as is present in the United Kingdom to improve the teacher-learning process, where teachers and information-technology personnel could together prepare lesson plans, test papers and teaching aids.

With Goa experiencing an all-time high influx of families with young children, the education system must be equipped to bear the load.

Fortunately, the state’s education infrastructure can efficiently accommodate the growing student population, “as education is free of charge from primary to standard 12 for schools affiliated and aided by the state government’s board of education,” states Ms. Fernandes, who is of the opinion that improvements in the public transportation system are, however, necessary for easy travel to their school of choice.

Ms. Fernandes also addresses the ongoing debate on whether education should be conducted in the mother tongue as initially stipulated by the NEP 2020. “During ongoing consultations with principals and academicians, the present consensus is that education in the mother tongue may not be feasible. Parents and stakeholders in education have come to realise that the English language is required for higher studies in India and abroad,” she says.

Ms. Fernandes adds that the NEP 2020 has fortunately addressed this concern by following the three-language formula, wherein the choice of language is left to the discretion of the state and the schools.