Entrepreneurship Education Under The NEP 2020 And Its Impact

The world is ever-evolving, and in today’s global economy, children need to be taught to think differently and innovatively from an early age. Entrepreneurship, innovation, and small businesses are at the front in the current economy. Children need to be taught entrepreneurship and practical life skills in schools to survive and succeed in such a scenario.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recognises the importance of entrepreneurship education and aims to design and promote an entrepreneurial environment at the ground level across all schools. Entrepreneurship education under NEP 2020 will cover appropriate teacher training and development, upgrade the curriculum to include entrepreneurial education, collaborate with industry and private sector, etc.

Objectives Of Entrepreneurship Education According To NEP 2020

The education, training, and skills of the workforce define a country’s human capital. Entrepreneurship education is important to a child’s education and skill development. Including it in the education policy and curriculum encourages children to develop problem-solving and innovative thinking skills and pursue their preferred careers. The objectives of entrepreneurship education in NEP 2020 are:

• Encourage innovation
• Create more jobs
• Enable students to compete at a global level
• Train students for better employment and entrepreneurship

By providing young learners with the proper knowledge and hands-on training, entrepreneurship education under NEP makes them ready and capable for the future, whether as an employer or an employee.

Key Factors Of Entrepreneurship Education According To NEP 2020

Designing an appropriate curriculum for entrepreneurship education will greatly impact the success of entrepreneurship education under NEP. Implementing it in schools will require a lot of facilitators to come together and work closely to enhance and develop the entrepreneurship environment. The key factors of entrepreneurship education under NEP 2020 are:

1. Implementing Entrepreneurship Into Teaching And Training

   India is evolving, and the education policy is one of the main reasons for the shift in the learning and development of children. The NEP 2020 focuses on holistic education beyond textbooks, which encourages innovation, research, and problem-solving skills in students. Efforts are made to encourage children to think innovatively and creatively. Entrepreneurship requires inventions, multi-dimensional skills, observational skills, etc. Understanding this, the NEP 2020 aims to capture and enhance each child’s unique abilities in both academic and non-academic fields.

2. Curriculum Development

   NEP 2020 encourages conceptual and hands-on learning rather than mugging and rot learning. The entrepreneurship education curriculum is designed so that practice and theory go hand in hand. Students first get orientation, exposure to experiential learning, and field visits to get hands-on experience, and then relate these learnings with classroom theory. The NEP 2020 also ensures the integrity, resource efficiency, and transparency of the education system through regular checks and audits.

3. Teacher Development

   NEP 2020 places teachers and faculty at the heart of the learning process. The policy encourages regular professional development, better working conditions, and upskilling with the latest technology. The teacher needs to become a facilitator to teach and foster entrepreneurial skills and develop curiosity and creativity in young learners. The education program and teachings need to be developed keeping in mind the entrepreneurial needs of future generations of leaders, such as complex problem solving, out-of-the-box thinking, innovations, etc. Teachers should teach through various activities and workshops, enabling students to develop entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

4. Engagement With The Non-Government Sector

   Entrepreneurship improves the economy of a country and promotes growth. In India, several initiatives, such as Make in India, Start-up India, Aatmnanirbhar Bharat, etc., promote small businesses and entrepreneurs. NGOs also play an important role in helping entrepreneurs succeed as they have good relations with the public and access to multiple resources. Young entrepreneurs and small-scale businesses can take the help of these organisations and use their connections, networks, and resources to expand their businesses. The NEP also emphasises the importance of investment and funding in the public education system from the private sector and communities.

How Will National Education Policy 2020 Help Develop Entrepreneurship?

To promote entrepreneurship, children need to be encouraged to develop the right skills early, and it is important to nurture the right attitude and thinking ability in students. The NEP 2020 emphasises the need for entrepreneurship education to ensure future leaders of the country are creative thinkers and problem-solvers. Here are some ways entrepreneurship education under NEP 2020 is being developed:

1. Research And Innovation-Based Learning

   NEP 2020 gives importance to practical learning and hands-on experiences rather than traditional rot learning. So, more research and innovation-based teaching and learning methods are being developed to promote critical thinking, analytical skills, conceptual and application-based learning, etc. With this time of practical exposure and education, students will develop a risk-taking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial mindset.

2. Promoting Multidisciplinary Learning

   Growing up, we were told that to become successful, we should become either doctors or engineers or take up a secured Government job. But this is not the case anymore. Many avenues and options have opened up, giving students a chance to develop skills to their liking and pursue the career of their choice. With various subjects available to mix and choose from, a student can learn both art and science. An aspiring entrepreneur can learn accounting, business management, economics, and more.

3. Paying Emphasis on Extracurricular

   NEP 2020 also promotes vocational training and education, communication skills, physical education, sports, etc. It looks beyond only the academic development of a child and ensures an overall holistic development in all spheres, academic and non-academic. Entrepreneurs will need more than subject knowledge to become successful. They will need good negotiation and communication skills to implement their ideas and succeed. The entrepreneurship education under NEP covers this.

4. Changes in the Way of Taking Assessments

   The assessments under NEP 2020 will focus on holistic development and not just the marks. Students will be evaluated on the skills they have developed and on their practical knowledge.

Conclusion

To be successful, more than subject knowledge is required. Young learners dreaming of becoming leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow need to be taught skills like communication, negotiation, building relationships, problem-solving, critical thinking, etc. This will equip them to become successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship education under NEP 2020 rightly recognises this and encourages the overall holistic development of students across the country. With the correct education and attitude, India will have global leaders and entrepreneurs taking the country to the next level.

Last Updated on November 7, 2024