Understanding NEP 2020: What It Means for Maths Education

What is NEP 2020 ?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a comprehensive framework introduced by the Government of India to overhaul the education system, replacing the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986 (modified in 1992). Approved on July 29, 2020, NEP 2020 aims to make education holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, and aligned with 21st-century needs, emphasizing experiential learning, critical thinking, and inclusivity. It covers school education, higher education, and vocational training, with a vision to achieve universal access to quality education by 2030.

Key objectives of NEP 2020 relevant to school education include:

Shifting from rote learning to competency-based learning, focusing on conceptual understanding and skills.
Promoting experiential and activity-based learning through hands-on activities, projects, and real-world applications.
Introducing a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, Secondary stages) to replace the 10+2 model, emphasizing early childhood education and flexibility in subject choices.
Integrating vocational education, arts, and sports into the mainstream curriculum.
Enhancing teacher training and technology integration to support modern pedagogies.

How Does NEP 2020 Differ from NPE 1986 (Focus on Activity-Based Education)?

The NPE 1986 focused on expanding access to education, improving infrastructure, and standardizing curricula, but it was heavily oriented toward rote memorization and examination-driven learning. While it laid the foundation for universal education, it lacked emphasis on practical, student-centered pedagogies. Below are the key differences between NEP 2020 and NPE 1986, with a focus on activity-based education:

Aspect	NPE 1986	NEP 2020
Learning Approach	Emphasized rote learning, textbook-based instruction, and exam performance.	Prioritizes experiential, activity-based, and inquiry-based learning to foster critical thinking and problem-solving.
Activity-Based Education	Limited focus; teaching relied on lectures and theoretical knowledge. Practical activities were supplementary, often absent in under-resourced schools.	Mandates hands-on, activity-based learning (e.g., projects, experiments, manipulatives) across subjects, especially in math and science, to make concepts tangible.
Curriculum Flexibility	Rigid curriculum with fixed subjects and heavy content load, discouraging exploration.	Flexible, multidisciplinary curriculum with reduced content, encouraging projects, arts, and vocational skills to make learning engaging.
Assessment Methods	Focused on summative assessments (board exams) with minimal continuous evaluation.	Introduces competency-based assessments, formative evaluations, and holistic progress cards to assess skills and understanding, not just memory.
Teacher Training	Limited emphasis on pedagogical innovation; training was sporadic and outdated.	Mandates continuous professional development, focusing on experiential pedagogies, technology, and student-centered methods.
Infrastructure for Practical Learning	Minimal investment in labs or activity-based resources, especially in rural schools.	Encourages schools to set up science/math labs, art corners, and tinkering labs to support hands-on learning.
Technology Integration	Virtually absent; focused on traditional classroom setups.	Promotes digital tools, e-content, and hybrid learning to complement activity-based methods.

Key Shift in Activity-Based Education:

NPE 1986: Activity-based learning was not a core component. Math and science teaching relied on chalk-and-talk methods, with manipulatives or labs rare outside elite schools. This led to abstract, disconnected learning, especially in mathematics, where students struggled with conceptual understanding (e.g., algebra, geometry).
NEP 2020: Explicitly promotes experiential learning through activities like model-making, group projects, and hands-on tools (e.g., math kits). It aligns with pedagogies like the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) approach, where students use physical tools (concrete), diagrams (representational), and symbols (abstract) to grasp concepts. For example, NEP 2020 encourages math labs to make abstract topics like fractions or trigonometry interactive and intuitive.

How Can P Learn Items Help Schools Bridge the Gap?

P Learn, offers Maths Kits and Maths Lab solutions for grades 1–12, covering over 400 concepts (e.g., algebra, geometry, trigonometry) using hands-on tools made from child-safe materials like acrylic, rubber, and wood. These are supported by lab manuals, demonstration videos, and teacher training, explicitly aligned with NEP 2020’s focus on activity-based learning and the CRA approach. P Learn has significant potential to help schools transition from NPE 1986’s rote-based system to NEP 2020’s experiential model. Below are specific ways P Learn’s products can bridge this gap, tailored to the policy shift:

1. Enabling Hands-On Math Learning

Gap: Under NPE 1986, math was taught abstractly (e.g., memorizing formulas), leading to poor conceptual understanding. NEP 2020 requires schools to adopt activity-based tools to make math tangible.
P Learn Solution:
- Maths Kits and items: Over 200 products (e.g., fraction tiles, geometric models) allow students to physically manipulate concepts. For example, a Grade 5 student can use fraction bars to visualize addition (concrete), draw diagrams (representational), and solve equations (abstract), aligning with CRA.
- Maths Labs: Comprehensive lab setups provide schools with ready-to-use stations for activities like measuring angles or building 3D shapes, addressing NEP’s call for lab-based learning.
Impact: Equips schools to meet NEP 2020’s mandate for experiential learning, improving student outcomes (e.g., 20–30% better math scores, as seen in CRA studies) and compliance with new standards.

2. Supporting Teacher Transition to Experiential Pedagogies

Gap: Teachers trained under NPE 1986 are accustomed to lecture-based methods and may lack skills for activity-based instruction, a core NEP 2020 requirement.
P Learn Solution:
- Teacher Training: P Learn provides training on using kits and labs, teaching educators how to integrate hands-on tools into lessons. For example, a workshop might show how to use algebra tiles to teach quadratic equations.
- Lab Manuals and Videos: Detailed guides and demonstration videos offer step-by-step instructions, reducing the learning curve for teachers unfamiliar with experiential methods.
Impact: Empowers teachers to adopt NEP 2020’s pedagogy, ensuring effective implementation of activity-based learning and enhancing classroom engagement.

3. Aligning with Competency-Based Assessments

Gap: NPE 1986’s exam-centric approach focused on rote recall, while NEP 2020 emphasizes assessing skills like problem-solving and application, requiring new teaching tools.
P Learn Solution:
- Activity-Based Assessments: Kits include activities (e.g., building a parallelogram to explore properties) that align with NEP’s formative assessments, helping teachers evaluate understanding over memorization.
- Real-World Applications: Labs encourage projects (e.g., using trigonometry kits to measure heights) that mirror NEP’s focus on practical skills, preparing students for holistic progress cards.
Impact: Helps schools implement NEP 2020’s assessment reforms, making P Learn’s tools a critical resource for compliance and student success.

4. Bridging Resource Gaps in Underfunded Schools

Gap: Many schools, especially in tier-2/3 cities, lack the infrastructure (e.g., math labs) needed for NEP 2020’s experiential learning, a legacy of NPE 1986’s underinvestment.
P Learn Solution:
- Affordable Kits: P Learn has developed specific kits and lab box for small schools, P Learn’s products are accessible to budget-constrained institutions.
- Turnkey Labs: Pre-designed Maths Labs reduce setup costs and complexity, enabling schools to quickly adopt NEP-compliant facilities.
Impact: Democratizes access to activity-based learning, helping rural and semi-urban schools meet NEP 2020 standards without heavy investment.

5. Integrating Technology for Hybrid Learning

Gap: NPE 1986 ignored technology, while NEP 2020 encourages digital tools to enhance experiential learning, a challenge for schools with limited tech infrastructure.
P Learn Solution:
- Video Content: P Learn’s demonstration videos can be used on low-cost devices (e.g., tablets), showing students how to use kits, aligning with NEP’s hybrid learning push.
- Future Digital Add-Ons: P Learn is in the process of develop a low-cost LMS with virtual manipulatives, complementing physical kits and meeting NEP’s tech integration goals.
Impact: Enhances accessibility and scalability of activity-based learning, making P Learn a forward-looking partner for NEP 2020 implementation.

6. Supporting NEP’s Multidisciplinary and Inclusive Goals

Impact: Positions P Learn as a versatile solution for NEP 2020’s holistic curriculum, increasing its appeal to schools and parents.

Gap: NPE 1986’s rigid curriculum isolated subjects, while NEP 2020 promotes interdisciplinary learning and inclusivity, requiring tools that engage diverse learners.

P Learn Solution:

Cross-Disciplinary Kits: Kits covering geometry or measurement can integrate with physics (e.g., angles in motion) or art (e.g., symmetry), supporting NEP’s multidisciplinary approach.

Inclusive Design: Child-safe, tactile materials cater to diverse learners, including those with visual or motor challenges, aligning with NEP’s equity focus.