New Education Policy (NEP)2020, approved by the Government of India in July 2020, outlines the vision of India’s new education system. It replaces the previous National Policy on Education 1986.The policy aims to transform India’s education system by 2040. Needless to add that education in India is a concurrent list subject.
NEP, in its chapter titled Learning for All, has described the Inclusive Education to meet the needs of the socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Besides, it ensures equal opportunities and support for all students cutting across their backgrounds, abilities or gender. It emphasizes inculcating inclusive education in all schools throughout the length and breadth of the country.
What is Inclusive Education in NEP?
It is a new approach towards educating the children with disability and learning difficulties with that of normal ones within the same roof. It brings all students together in one classroom and communities regardless of their caste, creed, region and colour. The concept of Inclusive Education is not new. It was coined and highlighted by the Kothari Commission in 1966.
To sum up, Inclusive Education means education must be imparted to students in same classrooms, in same schools.
In this context, it is worthwhile to mention here the New Academic Structure (5+3+3+4). As suggested by the NEP 2000, the new education system will follow a 5+3+3+4 education system where the students will spend 5 years in strengthening their foundation, 3 years in the preparatory stage, 3 years in the middle stage and the rest 4 years in the secondary stage. We may easily understand it like this – Age from 3 to 8: in 5 years one may complete classes 1+2(Fundamental Stage). Age 9 to 11: in 3 years one may complete classes 3+5 (Preparatory Stage). Age from 12 to 14: in 3 years one may complete classes 6 to 8 (Middle Stage). Age from 15 to 18: in 4 years one may complete classes 9 to 12 (Secondary Stage). Besides, students will have the option to exit from UG programs after one year with a certificate, two- years with award of the diploma and after three years with the award of the bachelor degree. Obviously, the UG will last 4 years, and the PG program will be for either 1-year Master’s course or two years, depending on the approach.
It should be noted that the National Education Policy 2020 has decided, “There may be an integrated five-year Bachelor’s/Master’s programme. Undertaking a Ph.D shall require either a degree or a 4 years Bachelor’s degree with Research.The M.Phil programme will be discontinued.
As regards Islam, it is the only religion in the world that made education obligatory for its adherents,for, “seeking knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim man and woman”.
Accordingly, it can be safely said that it is Islam which first designed the concept of Inclusive Education about more than 14 centuries ago.
That is why Islam made great strides in different branches of knowledge and learning. Besides, Islam showed the path of progress, prosperity and salvation to the entire world. Before the advent of Islam, the whole universe had sunk into darkness and corruption.
As an Iqra community (Reading and Research community), Muslims have always been innovators and initiators par excellence. The very first Revelation sent to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ starts with an imperative verb, “Iqra”i.e.read, laying tremendous stress on reading and writing and knowing the unknown.The Holy Qur’an says, “Read in the name of your Lord Who has created all that exists. He has created man from a clot of congealed blood. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught man by the pen. He has taught man that which he did not know.”(S.96, A.1-5).
Well- known Islamic scholar Maulana S.M.Rabey Hasani Nadwi says, “When Europe was passing through darkness and ignorance in the Middle Ages, the Muslim world was producing scholars, thinkers, educationists, and eminent masters of physical and social sciences. European writers have often acknowledged that for six hundred years Europe learnt and benefited from the researches of Muslims before commencing their march to progress.”
Truly speaking, Renaissance in Europe is indebted to the contributions and achievements made by Islam in a plethora of branches of knowledge and learning. As internationally known Islamic scholar, Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi says, “There is not a single sector of European revival which is not indebted to Islamic thought. Islam imparted a new glow of life to Europe.”
In short, the age in which we live is described as the age of Knowledge explosion.Despite this fact, scores of men and women are deprived of the asset of knowledge. Moreover, to become a vishwaguru in knowledge society requires transformational reforms in education. Hence, it is high time that the concept of Inclusive Education is implemented with a holistic approach.
[The writer Faculty Member, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India]