SARTHAQ: The NEP 2020 Implementation Plan

Education is the backbone of any society, and ensuring that every child receives quality education from early years is one of the biggest responsibilities of the Government and citizens alike. In a vast country like ours, it is a big challenge to ensure that every child receives inclusive and fair education. To tackle this, the Government of India has launched the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which replaces the education policy of 1986.

The main aim of NEP is to address the issues in India’s current educational policy and systems and rectify them.

What Is SARTHAQ

The full form of SARTHAQ is Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education. It is a scheme developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy to implement the NEP 2020 and help the states and UTs achieve their goals and objectives.The primary goal of SARTHAQ is to detail activities in a manner that precisely outlines objectives, outcomes, and timelines; in other words, it links NEP recommendations to 297 tasks, accountable agencies, deadlines, and 304 task outputs.

Rather than building entirely new structures, SARTHAQ has made an effort to ensure that the indicated activities are aligned and on top of the existing structures.

With the SARTHAQ initiative, a roadmap will be available for the NEP 2020 and the path forward to ensure it is implemented efficiently and smoothly. The initiative is suggestive in nature, and the states and UTs are free to adjust the plan to fit their local contexts and change it as per their needs. The program will provide elementary and secondary school students with holistic development and means for lifelong learning.

Objectives Of SARTHAQ

The main aim of the SARTHAQ policy is to achieve the goals and objectives of the NEP 2020 at the grassroots level and create awareness and motivation for teachers and students to transform the education system of the country. The main objectives of the SARTHAQ scheme are:

• There will be new and modified curriculums for all schools and early childhood education.
• The scheme will help in making good-quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy more accessible by 2025.
• The initiative will try to increase the enrolment rate of students and reduce dropout rates.
• The quality of Teacher Education Programmes will also be improved.
• The curriculum will integrate sports, arts, vocational training, environmental awareness, knowledge about India and the world, and 21st-Century Skills.
• With the SARTHAQ policy, the emphasis will be on experimental education and practical learning rather than rotting and mugging.
• There will be more emphasis on learning the mother tongue and other regional languages in the early learning years.
• The policy will aim to strengthen the physical and online educational infrastructure for a more barrier-free and inclusive education experience for all students.

Steps Involved In Creating SARTHAQ

The SARTHAQ scheme was developed after an extensive consultation process in which all the States, UTS, independent boards, and around 7177 different stakeholders gave various recommendations.

• From 8 September to 25 September 2020, a teacher’s festival called ‘Shikshak Parv’ was held. During this festival, various ideas related to the NEP 2020 and its implementation were discussed, and more than 15 lakh potential suggestions were made.
• Experts analysed and discussed all the proposals and feedback in depth.
• It was decided to combine the suggestions of all States, UTs, and other stakeholders in the final plan.

Expected Outcomes After Implementation

SARTHAQ is an evolving working plan that will change and update from time to time based on the feedback and experience of all the stakeholders. It is suggestive in nature, and all the States and UTs have the flexibility to adopt it as they see fit.

Following are some of the expected outcomes after implementation of SARTHAQ:

• A complete transformation of the curriculum for all levels of schooling, including early education and adult education. The new curriculum framework will be aligned with the NEP 2020.
• Students’ enrolment, retention, and transition will improve at all levels, and dropouts will reduce.
• All students will get access to quality ECCE and foundational literacy by the 3rd grade.
• Enhancement of learning outcomes at every level, with a focus on early childhood education and learning in mother tongues or regional/local languages.
• Integration of sports, the arts, vocational education, Indian knowledge, 21st-century skills, civic values, environmental conservation awareness, etc., into the curriculum at every level.
• Teachers will be motivated to use innovative pedagogies in the class and promote experiential learning.
• The board exams and all the entrance tests will be refined and improved.
• There will be better quality teaching and learning material, which will be more diverse.
• All the textbooks and study materials will also be available in regional and local languages.
• The Teacher Education Programmes will also be improved.
• Promoting the continuous professional development of teachers and ensuring better-trained teachers.
• All students and teachers will have access to a safe, secure, and inclusive learning environment.
• Upgraded school infrastructure at all levels.
• Promoting resource sharing amongst students and schools.
• Establishing uniform standards in learning outcomes and governance in all schools by setting up an online transparent public disclosure system.
• Integrating Technology in Education and Governance.

Conclusion

The NEP 2020 is a great way to improve our education system and make it more comprehensive, adaptive, and in line with the requirements of the 21st century. Such an aspiring and challenging policy requires a solid roadmap for its implementation, and SARTHAQ is just that: a plan to ensure that all the goals of the NEP are achieved.

Proper implementation of the NEP will lead to an inclusive education system promoting life-long learning for all students and making them ready for the future.

SARTHAQ will help our students compete at a global level while keeping India’s traditions, culture, and value system in their hearts, as envisioned in the NEP 2020.

Last Updated on January 15, 2025