PANAJI
From the coming academic year 2025-26, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will be implemented at Class III, Class VI and Class X levels.
In the current term, NEP recommendations were implemented for class IX and foundation stage two -- second year of preschool at age 4 -- while last year, the implementation began for foundational stage one (entry stage of preschool at age 3) and Class VIII.
Speaking to The Goan, Secretary Education IAS Prasad Lolayekar said that the implementation will follow for foundational year three -- third year of preschool at age 5 from the coming academic year along with Class VI and X.
He said that in the subsequent years, implementation for foundational year four (Class I), and eventually Class II will be done. “Goa plans to complete the implementation of the NEP for all classes from preschool to Class XII by 2027-28,” Lolayekar said.
The government has also announced earlier that the NEP for children with special needs would be introduced from the academic year 2025-26 onwards.
Meanwhile, sources informed that, with NEP implementation going in full swing, the government, as per the need, is looking to increase the instructional hours for all classes at the middle stage (VI to VII) and the secondary stage (IX to XII) from the next academic year, 2025-26 onwards.
When asked, Lolayekar said that the decision on the same is yet to be taken.
The NEP prescribes 600 hours per semester or 1,200 hours per year in all curricular areas from classes VI to IX –once implemented. This means schools have to log 39 hours per week as against the existing module of little above 30 hours a week, followed in Goa.
As reported earlier, once the academic restructuring is completed, the government will take up physical restructuring of schools, as per requirement.
“Restructuring of the school may be initiated either by relocating, upgrading or collocating in the school complexes created for the ease of functionalities under NEP 2020 for all stages,” the State government appointed Committee had recommended.
