NEP 2020: A New Path for Education in Jammu & Kashmir, but Many Hurdles Ahead

NEP 2020 (Representative Image)

News Desk | July 28, 2025 | Featured Edition | Follow on Google News

NEP 2020: A New Path for Education in Jammu & Kashmir, but Many Hurdles Ahead

Education is one of the strongest tools to build a progressive society. Realising this, the Government of India launched the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the first major education reform in over three decades. It promises to reshape the entire learning system, making it more flexible, practical, and focused on overall development. For a region like Jammu & Kashmir, which has long struggled with infrastructure gaps, conflict-related disruptions, and socio-economic challenges, the NEP 2020 offers a critical chance to uplift the education sector and open new doors for its youth.

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The NEP brings many forward-looking ideas. It replaces the old 10+2 system with a 5+3+3+4 structure, starting formal education from age three. It highlights early childhood care and education (ECCE) to build a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy. This is vital for J&K, where surveys have shown many children struggle to read simple texts or solve basic math problems by Class 3.

A key feature of NEP is teaching in the mother tongue or local language at least up to Class 5, sometimes even Class 8. This suits a linguistically rich area like Jammu & Kashmir, home to languages like Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, and Urdu. Children learn better in a language they speak at home.

The policy also pushes for less rote learning and more critical thinking, creativity, and practical knowledge. From Class 6 onwards, students will get exposure to vocational education and even internships, which will prepare them with skills that can help in future jobs or self-employment.
In higher education, the NEP introduces a four-year undergraduate degree with multiple exit options — students can leave after one, two, or three years with a certificate, diploma, or degree. It also sets up an Academic Bank of Credits, letting students switch courses or colleges without losing their progress.

The policy also wants more multidisciplinary colleges and a bigger push for research through a National Research Foundation.
Equally important is the focus on teacher training and quality. Teachers are at the heart of this policy.

They will be given better training and continuous professional development, so they can handle new teaching methods.

The NEP also talks of using digital learning and technology to reach students in remote places — very relevant for the hills and far-flung villages of J&K.

While the NEP 2020 looks excellent on paper, its ground-level implementation in Jammu & Kashmir faces many hurdles. First is the lack of proper infrastructure.

Many schools still run in rented or unsafe buildings without proper classrooms, toilets, or playgrounds. According to various government data, several schools in J&K even lack electricity.

Reliable internet is missing in many areas, widening the digital gap. This was clear during COVID-19, when thousands of students in rural areas could not attend online classes simply because they had no smartphones or connectivity.

There is also a shortage of trained teachers. Frequent transfers, vacancies, and limited in-service training mean many children do not get the quality teaching the NEP hopes for. Teaching in mother tongues is another challenge in J&K. With so many languages, deciding which language to use in which school, and arranging teachers and textbooks in those languages, is not an easy task.

Besides, periodic law and order issues often lead to long school closures, disrupting learning. Many teachers and administrators still use old methods of rote learning.

Awareness about NEP’s new ideas is still low at the village level, leading to resistance or confusion.

Monitoring and evaluation are also weak. Without strong systems to track student progress or policy outcomes, it is hard to know if these reforms are truly reaching classrooms and benefiting children.

Despite these obstacles, the NEP 2020 remains a beacon of hope for Jammu & Kashmir’s youth. If properly implemented, it can improve skills, reduce dropouts, create more employment opportunities, and contribute to peace and progress.

To achieve this, the government must urgently invest in school infrastructure, expand internet connectivity, fill teacher vacancies, and offer regular training to educators. Books and learning material in local languages must be developed carefully.

Local communities, parents, and NGOs should also be involved to build trust and ownership.

Only by working together can we ensure the NEP 2020 becomes more than just a policy on paper. It can then truly change the lives of thousands of children in Jammu & Kashmir, helping them grow into confident, skilled citizens ready to build a better tomorrow.
By, Farooq Ahmed Mir
MA English B.Ed
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