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Welcome to International Journal of Research in Social Sciences & HumanitiesE-ISSN : 2249 - 4642 | P-ISSN: 2454 - 4671 IMPACT FACTOR: 8.561 |
Abstract
English for Employability and Skill Development under NEP 2020: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects for Higher Education in India
Dr. Soundarya Joseph
Volume: 15 Issue: 4 2025
Abstract:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 represents a major shift in the Indian education system from conventional content-oriented learning towards holistic, multidisciplinary, competency-based and skill-oriented education. Within this transformation, English language proficiency assumes considerable importance because effective communication, professional interaction, digital literacy, workplace writing and interpersonal skills increasingly influence students' transition from higher education to employment. At the same time, NEP 2020 promotes multilingualism and recognizes the importance of Indian languages, thereby creating a need to conceptualize English not as a replacement for Indian languages but as an additional skill that can enhance educational and employment opportunities. This paper examines the role of English language education in promoting employability and skill development under NEP 2020, particularly in Indian higher education. The study is based primarily on secondary sources, including NEP 2020, UGC frameworks, government reports, higher-education statistics and recent employability research. The analysis indicates that English proficiency contributes to communication, confidence, professional mobility, digital participation and access to employment opportunities, but unequal access to quality English education remains a significant challenge. Recent experimental evidence from urban India also indicates that English-focused job training can improve English proficiency and employment-related outcomes. The paper argues for an integrated model in which English communication is linked with vocational education, digital skills, internships, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and workplace competencies. It concludes that NEP 2020 provides a strong policy foundation for transforming English education from a largely examination-oriented subject into a practical employability skill.
References
- Government of India. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- University Grants Commission. (2022). Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes. New Delhi: UGC.
- Ministry of Education. (2024). All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021–22. Government of India.
- Government of India. (2023). National Credit Framework. Ministry of Education/UGC.
- British Council. English and Skills for Employability in India. British Council India.
- University Grants Commission. (2023). Guidelines and Curriculum Framework for Life Skills (Jeevan Kaushal) 2.0. New Delhi: UGC
- Ministry of Education. (2020). National Education Policy 2020: Higher Education and Vocational Education Framework. Government of India.
- UGC. (2023). National Higher Education Qualifications Framework (NHEQF). University Grants Commission, Government of India.
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