Gender inclusive education under NEP-2020: A short note

According the AI overview, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes gender-inclusive education, aiming to provide equitable opportunities for all students, including girls and transgender individuals, through initiatives like the Gender Inclusion Fund and teacher training on gender sensitivity.

Under National Education Policy (NEP)-2020, GOI has decided to set up a 'Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF)' to provide equitable quality education across all genders. According a press release (ID: 1944287; 31 JUL 2023; PIB Delhi), The Policy focuses on ‘Equitable and Inclusive Education’ which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational opportunity because of their background and socio-cultural identities.

The following points have made in the press release

• ·         Taking into account the concerns of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDG) which includes female and transgender individuals

• ·         Viewing gender as a cross-cutting priority to achieve gender equality in education with the partnership of states and local community organizations.

• ·         Setting up a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF) especially for girls and transgender students to build the nation’s capacity to provide equitable quality education for all girls as well as transgender students.

• ·         Attempting equitable and quality education for girl children are being met through specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0 by allocating dedicated resources for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).

• ·         Appointing of additional teachers including women teachers, stipend to CWSN girls from class I to class XII, separate toilets for girls, teachers' sensitization programmes to promote girls participation, gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including text books etc.

• ·         Reducing gender gaps at all levels of school education through residential Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (kgbvs), which are residential schools from class VI to XII for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups

This blogger has been active in the areas of feminist pedagogy and gender equity in STEM education as indicated in the inset picture.