The focus is education!
Publishing industries across the world drive and thrive on education. All eyes are on the draft of National Educational Policy (NEP) 2019, which has been recently submitted and is built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability. The draft proposes a major reconfiguration of curricular and pedagogical structure with Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as an integral part of school education. The committee also recommends Extension of Right to Education Act 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to 18. A 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure based on cognitive and socio-emotional developmental stages of children has been recommended. This will involve: Foundational Stage (age 3-8 yrs, pre-primary plus Grades 1-2); Preparatory Stage (8-11 years, Grades 3-5); Middle Stage (11-14 years, Grades 6-8); and Secondary Stage (14-18 years, Grades 9-12). The pedagogy that will focus on the development of core capacities and life skills, including 21st century skills.
A few changes are recommended in the higher education as well, including a restructuring of higher education institutions with three types of higher education institutions is proposed — Type 1 (for world-class research and high quality teaching); Type 2 (for high quality teaching across disciplines with significant contribution to research); and Type 3 (high quality teaching focused on undergraduate education). Even the undergraduate programs (e.g. BSc, BA, BCom, BVoc) of 3 or 4 years duration will be restructured, having multiple exit and entry options.
The focus is on Innovation, also an apex body, the National Research Foundation, is proposed for creating and building a strong research culture and capacity across higher education.
What’s more? Indian and classical languages will be promoted, with setting up of three new National Institutes for Pali, Persian and Prakrit. Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) has also been recommended.
International Publishers Association (IPA) recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with the African Publishers Network and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa to formalise the IPA’s commitment to the region.
I recently attended Readmagine19 in Madrid, which was a great platform for innovation, learning and networking, organised by the FGSR & International Publishing Distribution Association. To see presentations, log on to www.ipdaweb.org/projects-services
Publishing industry is proud to have the onus of educating the future citizens. Happy publishing!
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