The Union Ministry of Education unveiled new guidelines on Monday to implement a bagless period for students in classes 6 to 8, aiming to make learning more engaging, hands-on, and less stressful. These guidelines were released on the fourth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and were developed by the PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education, under the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
As per the NEP 2020, all students from classes 6-8 are to experience a 10-day bagless period. During this time, students will intern with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, and potters. The goal is to blend practical skills with academic learning, reducing the gap between theoretical knowledge and its real-world application. This exposure will help students in identifying potential career paths early on.
Students will partake in a variety of hands-on courses, providing them with basic skills in vocational crafts like carpentry, electrical work, metal work, gardening, and pottery. These activities will be decided by local communities and aligned with local skill needs.
The guidelines suggest flexible scheduling for the 10-day period, recommending two to three slots throughout the academic year. It emphasizes involving all subject teachers in planning and potentially combining indoor and outdoor activities in a single day. Recommended activities include visiting vegetable markets, conducting charity visits, writing reports on pet care, doodling, kite making, organizing book fairs, sitting under a banyan tree, and exploring biogas plants and solar energy parks.
Alongside this initiative, several other programs were launched on the NEP anniversary. These include dedicated TV channels for various Indian languages, primers for early graders in 25 languages, career guidance guidelines, the National Mission for Mentoring, National Professional Standards for Teachers in braille and audiobooks, a school innovation marathon by AICTE, and publications on graduation attributes and professional competencies.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that the NEP 2020 has driven significant changes in the education system over the past four years, aiming to nurture a new generation of learners. The policy seeks to make education in India more dynamic, grounded in Indian values yet globally oriented, and focused on outcomes. The Akhil Bharatiya Siksha Samagam event was conceptualized to celebrate the adoption of NEP 2020, reaffirming the collective commitment to its effective implementation and the achievement of shared educational goals.
