PANAJI
Goa’s school education system is set for a major overhaul from the academic year 2026–27, with the State preparing to implement the new Goa School Education Act and Rules, 2025, aimed at ensuring a smoother transition in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which is being introduced in a phased manner.
The amended Act and Rules are expected to be placed before the Goa Legislative Assembly during the Budget Session, likely to be held in February–March. The government will hold consultations with stakeholders before notifying it.
A special Task Force, constituted to draft the new legislation, submitted “The Proposed School Education Act and Rules, 2025” to the Education Department in April 2025. The draft outlines key structural changes to facilitate the shift from the existing education framework to the NEP-aligned system and was subsequently forwarded to the State government through the Law Department for approval.
Speaking to The Goan, Secretary Education Prasad Lolayekar said the draft Act and Rules are currently in the final stage of vetting by the Law Department. “The government has already finalised the draft, which is aligned with NEP. Since NEP implementation has already begun, the new Act and Rules will help ensure a smoother transition,” he said.
Lolayekar added that a stakeholders’ committee has already been constituted and will be consulted before the legislation is notified. “The Act and Rules will be placed in the House during the Budget Session and are proposed to come into effect from the academic year 2026–27,” he said.
At present, schools in Goa are governed under the Goa, Daman and Diu School Education Act, 1984, and the Goa, Daman and Diu School Education Rules, 1986.
In line with NEP 2020, the new Act proposes a restructuring of the schooling system from the existing 10+2 model to the 5+3+3+4 framework. The draft also makes provisions for high-stakes board examinations at Classes X and XII, commencement of the academic year in April across all grades in the future, and the scrapping of the no-detention (no-fail) policy, among other reforms.
Under the NEP framework, children aged 3–8 years fall under the foundational stage, 8–11 years under the preparatory stage, 11–14 years under the middle stage, and 14–18 years under the secondary stage.
As earlier reported by The Goan, the State government has decided to further expand NEP implementation from the 2026–27 academic year by covering Classes III, IV, V, VII and VIII. This will extend NEP coverage across the Balvatika, preparatory and middle stages, and partially into the secondary level, bringing students from Class I to X under the NEP framework.
