NEP 2020 to be more impactful if it prioritises critical thinking

If schools want to promote critical thinking, they will have to view students as intelligent beings whose learning is not restricted to the classroom

Ramesh Pokhriyal, India’s minister of education, believes that our National Education Policy (NEP) is so “impactful, interactive, innovative and inclusive” that Australia, Mauritius, Indonesia and the UAE “want to implement it in their countries as well”. If this claim made at the recent 97th annual convocation of Delhi University is true, it is a huge compliment. Before rejoicing in this international recognition, let us consider the impact in our own country.

The NEP 2020 lays emphasis on developing the “creative potential” and “higher-order cognitive capacities” of students. That includes “critical thinking and problem solving” apart from “social, ethical, and emotional capacities