NEP broadens education beyond elites, model for global south: Oxford student

An Oxford student impressed by NEP 2020 highlighted how it can reshape education in the Global South and bridge gaps in learning. He shared these views in Geneva during the 61st session of the UNHRC.

An University of Oxford student, Jan Hubel, has said that India’s National Education Policy 2020 could play an important role in expanding access to skills and vocational education for young people.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations Human Rights Council session, Hubel, a Luxembourg national pursuing a master’s degree in International Development, said the policy’s emphasis on practical learning could help students prepare for both employment and entrepreneurship.

Hubel said one of the most notable aspects of the policy is its effort to integrate vocational skills into school education. According to him, this approach allows students to understand how economic systems work and equips them with skills that can be applied in everyday life.

He noted that the policy moves beyond a traditional education model that focuses largely on elite or high-performing students. Instead, it attempts to broaden access to education and skills for a wider group of learners.

"I think by kind of prioritising these key skills India set a strong precedent for other countries in the global south to kind of move beyond from a system which very much targets elite and high achieving students so it's a much broader focus on the entirety of the student body," adds Hubel.

Hubel’s views are shaped by his experience working with the Akshar Foundation in Guwahati. During his internship, he observed how vocational learning was integrated into classroom activities in government schools.