National Education Policy 2020: Emerging Technologies a Key Enabler for Sustainable Education

Abstract

Sustainable education is one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at achieving a better society by 2030. Governments of emerging nations have made significant strides in expanding and raising educational standards. India's National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) is significant in this sense, notably because it promotes long-term and cutting-edge instructional technologies. To provide Indian education with a clear direction for the next few decades, a critical examination of the NEP-2020 rules on the deployment of Educational Technology is needed. Education and technology are closely intertwined in the policy's focus on early childhood care, inclusive education, and curriculum reform. The policy emphasizes the strategy for preparing educators to overcome the language barrier, offering digital libraries, supporting language learning, and increasing access to available online training resources. The current study focuses on the technological transformation of education policy, encompassing primary, professional, and higher education, as well as the adoption of AI and digital infrastructure. Education 4.0 emerges from a necessity to rethink the educational system in light of the emerging technologies of Industry 4.0, in order to meet the demands of the industry and foster the development of skills through collaboration from diverse backgrounds in IT, academia, start-ups, and government. The internet, digital gadgets, and even power are within reach for many low-income pupils. There is no substitute for human interaction in education, and technology can only be utilized to enhance the learning process. NEP-2020 acknowledges these constraints and accentuates coordinated efforts and practical solutions.