A STUDY OF TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE ON SYLLABUS REDUCTION UNDER NEP 2020

Abstract

School education in India has often been seen as overloaded with too much content. Students are expected to learn many topics, mostly through memorization, which leaves little room for understanding or thinking deeply. To change this, the Government of India introduced the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). One of the main suggestions in NEP 2020 is to reduce the school syllabus. The goal is to help students learn better by focusing on important concepts, and to give time for activities that develop critical thinking and creativity. At present, this syllabus reduction is only in the planning stage. The new textbooks based on NEP 2020 have not yet reached many schools. So, for teachers, it remains an idea, not something they are actually using. But some experience already exists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a rationalized syllabus was introduced, where some chapters and topics were removed to reduce pressure on students and teachers. Many teachers found that this gave them more time to help students understand topics better and include activities that support critical thinking. NEP 2020 also talks about the problem of private coaching and tuitions. It says that students should be able to learn everything they need in school itself. This will make education fairer, cheaper, and better for all, especially for students who cannot afford extra classes. Reducing the syllabus is a step in that direction, making schools more effective and inclusive for every child.