On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, the Indian Union Cabinet approved a transformative National Education Policy (NEP), marking a significant milestone in the country’s educational landscape. The NEP aims to revolutionize both school and higher education, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and a departure from rote learning. This policy envisions a comprehensive overhaul of the education system to foster a more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary approach to learning.
The Essence of NEP
The NEP is designed to encourage students to think outside the box, a principle beautifully illustrated by an allegory found on the internet. This story concerns a physics degree exam at the University of Copenhagen, which asked students to describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper using a barometer. One student’s unconventional response sheds light on the importance of innovative thinking.
An Allegory on Innovative Thinking
When asked to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer, a student’s response was to tie a long piece of string to the barometer, lower it from the roof to the ground, and measure the combined length of the string and barometer. Although correct, this answer infuriated the examiner, leading to the student’s immediate failure. However, upon appeal, an independent arbiter deemed the answer correct but lacking in physics principles. The student was given six minutes to verbally provide an answer that demonstrated knowledge of physics.
After thoughtful consideration, the student presented several methods:
- Dropping the Barometer: Measure the time it takes for the barometer to fall from the roof to the ground and calculate the height using the formula ( H = \frac{1}{2} g t^2 ).
- Using Shadows: Measure the barometer’s height and its shadow, then the skyscraper’s shadow, and calculate the height through proportional arithmetic.
- Pendulum Method: Swing the barometer as a pendulum at ground level and the roof, and use the difference in gravitational restoring force to calculate the height.
- Marking Barometer Lengths: Walk up the skyscraper’s emergency staircase, marking off barometer lengths, and sum them up.
- Air Pressure Measurement: Measure the air pressure difference between the roof and the ground and convert the difference into feet.
- The Janitor’s Method: Offer the barometer to the janitor in exchange for the building’s height.
When asked if he knew the conventional answer, the student confirmed he did but was tired of the pedantic approach to teaching. This story, popularized by Alexander Calandra’s 1959 essay “Angels on a Pin,” illustrates the value of thinking outside the box.
The Promise of NEP
Thinking outside the box means considering diverse solutions and methods for reaching a desired outcome. The most creative solutions often emerge after conventional ones have been explored. By encouraging such thinking, the NEP aspires to nurture a generation of learners who can approach problems from multiple angles, fostering innovation and creativity.
The new policy underscores the importance of holistic education, emphasizing multidisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and flexibility in the curriculum. The goal is to equip students with the skills and mindset needed to navigate a rapidly changing world, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities.
Personal Thoughts
The true test of the NEP will be whether it successfully encourages students to think outside the box. By fostering an educational environment that values creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, India’s new National Education Policy has the potential to create a more dynamic and innovative society. The story of the barometer and the skyscraper serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of innovative thinking, a principle that the NEP seeks to embed in the fabric of India’s educational system.
informative
Thanks, Pranav.
The story is well-known and it’s like a viral anecdote on the internet attributed to Bohr. But the question you asked is quite relevant as the new education policy is decided. There should be less stress on just rote while encouraging the kids to think independently too. It will not be just a systematic change but a change in the mindset of the teachers, examiners, educators as well as the parents. Nice post.
Thanks, Nilanjana. You’re right.
Sir plz also check out my ch5
An interesting discussion is value comment. I feel that you must write more on this matter, it won’t be a taboo subject but typically individuals are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Thanks, Lila.
The NEP should work towards skill development rather than degree holder…
On the face of it, I am very optimistic about it… I am fascinated by carpentry or for that matter psychology but we never had the opportunity to go on different tangent from what we chose as our regular course.
To that extent my son was lucky that his univ offered additional subjects and he could take up Economics along with his main Engineering Degree.
Yes, the system of cross-stream subjects is a good initiative. I was lucky as Hans Raj College had a fantastic library — one of the largest in Delhi University. I read more books on Ethics and Logic than Mathematics from the library. 😉
plz check out my ch 6,7,8 and give yr views
I feel that most of the studying happens at home in the form of self study. Its also helpful if you can find a knowledgeable and willing to help private tutor. And ofcourse with internet around, not much external help is needed nowadays.
Whatever school it is and whatever the syllabus is, with so many children sitting together in a classroom, no good or bad comes out of it. The influence a school has on a kid is probably quite small in terms of knowledge. Its quite helpful to develop personality and communication skills though. Ultimately people end up developing their own skills and speciality and get placed in the field that they can sustain for a long term.
Nice post, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Hope you’re doing well, stay safe.
Thanks, Mithai. It’s more of learning than studying that will help you in life. Take care and stay safe,