REIMAGINING 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN THE LIGHT OF NEP 2020: A TRANSFORMATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR HOLISTIC EDUCATION

The present study aims to examine the necessary components of the 21st Century Skills framework within the context of NEP 2020 by probing its alignment with major global frameworks of 21st century skills. For this the study employed a methodology of a systematic analysis of policy documents and related literature establishing a comparative and comprehensive picture among the 21st century skills frameworks of ATC21S, OECD (2009), P21, and NEP 2020. A comparative table of identifying and giving “emphasis” on the skills from the different frameworks using a four-point scale (4 = Very High, 3 = High and 2 = Moderate emphasis) has been done. The findings show that the 21st Century Skills highlighted in NEP 2020 exhibit a strong alignment with the P21 framework. However, NEP 2020 distinguishes itself by placing a significantly greater emphasis on moral and ethical dimensions of education, extending beyond the scope of P21 and other international frameworks.