Author: Shrabana Adhikari & Mr. Rajarshi Roy Chowdhury
DOI Link :: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/03.2024-61231767/BIJMRD/2024/V2/I1/A4
ABSTRACT: In the Indian context, in most of the schools and colleges, it has been seen that the success of a student is measured only on the basis of academic achievement and the concept of the holistic development has been confined to the four walls of the classroom interaction since the ancient time. This is the traditional way of analyzing the growth of a student who usually does not get enough exposure for realizing his or her own potential. The extracurricular activities are regarded as the supplement to the academic activities and it can be used as a catalyst for enhancing the capabilities of a student. Teachers should extensively motivate the students to participate in the extracurricular activities like art, cultural activity, sports, technological advancement, social activity, debate, creative work, cultural clubs, NSS, NCC, Student council, organizational skills and team work and many more before the session or after the duration of school. These activities contribute to the social development, communicative skills, interpersonal development, academic progress, time management skills of the student. In NEP 1986, the emphasize was given on the vocational education (job specific), technical education, adult education, minority education, women empowerment, retention of the student, removal of social disparities, universalization of elementary education and the research process. In a word, this policy mainly focused on the structure of educational levels (secondary and higher secondary), the quality of the education and the curriculum. However, the examination centric approach is no longer enough in this rapidly changing world of technology and innovation. The practical skills, critical thinking, creative approach and innovative minds are required from a very young age in this 21st century. In this era of digitalization, use of AI, Data science and Robotics in the educational field necessitates the implementation of experimental learning. The NEP 2020 introduced on 29th July under the chairperson K. Kasturirangan brings radical reforms in the educational system. It is flexible and integrated approach which does not discriminate between arts and science, curricular and extra- curricular activities, academic and vocational streams. This paper would attempt to describe how the new educational policy makes transformation in the field of higher education system by exploring the role of the extracurricular activities and how it helps to achieve the goals of education. According to this new policy, these activities not only validate the cognitive development but also generate cultural awareness, identity and the flexibility of the curriculum in higher education provides the students a great opportunity to balance between scholastic and inventive path.
Keywords– Educational policy, development, extracurricular activity, curriculum, Nep 1986, Nep 2020, digitalization.