Hope or Hurdle? NEP 2020 and the Education of the Marginalized
Published: Mar 21, 2025
Photo courtesy: Akshaya Patra Foundation
Annie Namala says that their recent study of 400 denotified community households in Rajasthan found that 69% of adult men and 86% of adult women had never attended school.
Abstract: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform India's education system with a focus on inclusivity and access. However, for marginalized communities, the effectiveness of these reforms remains a pressing concern. In this episode, we engage in a critical conversation with Annie Namala, a prominent social activist and education expert, to explore the impact of NEP 2020 on disadvantaged groups. The discussion delves into the categorization of socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs), the concept of Special Education Zones (SEZs), the role of data in policymaking, challenges in school enrollment, and the pressing issue of privatization in education. As we analyze the policy’s real-world implications, we ask: Is NEP 2020 truly fostering equitable education, or does it risk further alienating the most vulnerable communities?
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