A CRITICAL NOTE ON TEACHER EDUCATION WITH REFERENCE TO NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY (NEP), 2020S

Abstract

Education of a teacher truly drives the greatest change for community and makes progress in achieving societal transformation. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 recognises and identifies teachers and faculty as the heart of the learning process. Hence, the varied dimensions of teacher education mentioned in policy has to be properly analysed with social concern, responsibility and integrated view for policy implementation. Education Commission (1964-66) has mentioned that, “Of all the factors that influence the quality of education and its contribution to national development, the quality, competence, and character of our teachers are undoubtedly the most significant.” Fifty-four years later, their viewpoint still holds true, and the future of our nation still lies in the hands of our teachers. The present policy proposes significant and radical changes in the education system. Beside the fact that the present system holds dismal conditions of teacher education, recruitment, deployment, and service conditions responsible for the lack of teaching quality and motivation among Indian teachers. The policy emphasizes the importance of high-quality teacher education. Policy aims to initiate several systemic reforms to encourage bright and talented young minds to take up the teaching profession. The broad focus of this article is to present the critical analysis of teacher education component as proposed in NEP, 2020