DNH & Daman Notify School Education Rules 2026, Aligning System with NEP 2020

Daman | Union Territory — In a significant step towards modernising school education, the Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu has officially notified the School Education Rules, 2026, introducing a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at strengthening governance and improving learning outcomes across the Union Territory.

The new rules were finalised after the draft was published and the statutory consultation period concluded without major objections, paving the way for their formal implementation.

Officials said the regulations are designed to streamline education from pre-primary to higher secondary levels, bringing clarity to school classification, academic structures, and administrative mechanisms, including the creation of school clusters and block-level education systems.

A key highlight of the new framework is its alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on curriculum reforms, multilingual education, and holistic development of students. The rules reaffirm the right to free and compulsory education for children up to the age of 14.

The policy also strengthens support for linguistic minorities by safeguarding their right to establish and manage schools offering mother-tongue instruction. Additionally, provisions for adult education, literacy programmes, and reintegration of school dropouts have been expanded.

An official said, “The School Education Rules, 2026 are aimed at building an inclusive, transparent and future-ready education system that reflects the vision of NEP 2020 and ensures equitable access to quality learning for all students.”

The framework places strong emphasis on value-based education, environmental awareness, health and hygiene, social equality, national integration, and substance abuse prevention, aiming to shape responsible and socially aware citizens.

Education experts have welcomed the move, noting that the reforms are expected to significantly improve governance and accountability in the education sector while enhancing teaching standards across schools in the Union Territory.

The Administration stated that the new rules will play a crucial role in accelerating educational transformation and ensuring that DNH & Daman & Diu moves closer to national education benchmarks under NEP 2020.