NEW EDUCATION POLICY 2020 AND WOMEN EDUCATION: A STUDY

Education brings about knowledge and a reduction in gender bias which functions as a means of improving the status of women within the family and the community. Education is thus the foundation of women empowerment. After 34 years, there is a change in the education policy in India with the introduction of the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP). This new policy aims at universalization of education in India with 100% gross enrolment ratio by 2030 for school education and 50% by 2035 for higher education. The first such move as the formation of a Gender Inclusion Fund toward equitable education for girls who are underprivileged and creating Special Education Zones is included in the provision. NEP 2020 emphasizes upon inculcating Inclusive educational structure and inclusive educational culture in our school education system through infrastructural support and by making corresponding changes in curriculum incorporating materials on human values such as respect for all persons, empathy, tolerance, human rights, gender equality, non - violence, global citizenship, inclusion, and equity. It calls upon the stakeholders to overcome the barriers and remove biases and stereotypes through sensitization programme. The policy aims to promote inclusion, bringing out equity and developing respect for diversity through developing understanding about various cultures, religions, languages, gender identities, etc. among children, teachers and other school functionaries. Implementing of policy will result in empowerment of stake holders through efficient manner of resourcing and more robust and improved governance and monitoring mechanism with cooperation and support across schools for the education of children with disabilities and SEDGs.