NEW EDUCATION POLICY: OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGES IN RURAL AREA

In ancient India, the entire education system was based on Hinduism. Vedic literature was the main source of education in ancient India. Majority of students were boys or men, there is also education for girls, but the number of schools and guru or gurukul that existed at that time were few. During the entire Muslim rule, which spanned the Sultanate and the Mughal period, education received great support from the state. The Muslim rulers established many mosques, madrassahs, libraries, etc. During the reign of Akbar, education progressed greatly compared to the Tughlaq dynasty. The history of modern education in India begins with the establishment of the East India Company. Francis Xavier, one of the most famous missionaries in history, arrived in India and started to organize street classes. The main goal of the missionaries was to convert the original Indians to Christianity. In 1937 Wardha Scheme or the Wardha committee formed and Dr Zakir was appointed its chairman. Committee submitted its report, were all the resolution mention by Gandhiji were placed. Finally, the Scheme of National Education was adopted by Indian National in 1938. It was an institutionalized center named after the school British Invasion. After independence, India's education system requires a quick overhaul. Several committees and commissions were tasked with reviewing educational issues. The Education Commission (Kothari Commission) was established in 1964-66. New Education Policy, known as the National Policy on Education 1986, was announced in 1986. Ministry of Human Resource Development (formerly the Ministry of Education) has replaced the 34-year-old National Policy on Education. The policy will transform India into a flourishing knowledge hub, based on the pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability.

In rural India, the literacy rate is only 73.5 percent. More than half of children aged 3 to 16 are unable to read and execute arithmetic. In comparison, the number of schools in urban India is significantly higher. Gaps can be seen in a variety of ways. The Indian government has initiated a number of schemes to boost education in rural areas. It aims to ensure that education is of equal quality at all levels of schooling. The government's initiative determines how the structure is built, programs are launched, and plans are carried out. During the 2018-19 school year, 9.12 crore children benefited from hot prepared healthy food served in 11.35 lakh schools. NCERT books are now available in a digital format for free on e-PATHSHALA. Diksha is a digital platform for instructors to enhance their ability in a variety of ways. The National Education Policy – 2020 has the ability to alter the Indian educational system. It contains a number of recommendations aimed at providing high-quality education to both urban and rural communities. Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups is a new term used by the document (SEDGs). The new education policy stresses the construction of a visual lab where students may put their theoretical knowledge into practice, as well as making course content available in several languages. The NEP 2020 also mentions combining a big number of schools with a small number of students and teachers into a single building. The new education policy will promote skill-based learning and enhance students' practical skills. Music, art, and literature will be included in all higher education courses. Sociology, statics, mathematics, literature, and language are just a few of the subjects that might assist students in their overall development. NEP 2020 aims to ensure that great students, particularly from rural areas, enter the teaching profession. It further recommends that to promote universal participation, more efforts should be made to make Olympiads and contests in many fields available in rural regions and in regional languages. All Higher Educational Institutes will provide high-quality medical care to all their students. n India, a greater focus on new life skills like coding will assist to build a stronger pipeline of future leaders. The transition from rote to conceptual learning will provide a child with the foundational abilities to enroll in a course based on aptitude and competencies. It also adds skills from grade 6 onwards, ensuring that every kid has at least one skill by the end of his/her schooling.