NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK

NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK– Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper II-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK IN NEWS

• Recently, ministry of education informed Lok Sabha that they have not receivedinputs from many states for revising National Curriculum Framework.

EDUCATION

Education is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society, and promoting national development. The global education development agenda reflected in the Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by India in 2015 – seeks to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030. Such a lofty goal will require the entire education system to be reconfigured to support and foster learning, so that all of the critical targets and goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be achieved.

The aim must be for India to have an education system by 2040 that is second to none, with equitable access to the highest-quality education for all learners regardless of social or economic background. This National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century to address the many growing developmental imperatives of our country proposing the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including SDG4, while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

As per the National Education Policy, 2020, following four National Curriculum Frameworks will be developed:

1. National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE)
2. National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE)
3. National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE)
4. National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education (NCFAE)

WHAT IS NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK?

• National Education Policy 2020’s newNational Curriculum Framework (NCF) aims to empower and enable outstanding teaching and learning in the country, by converting the vision of the NEP 2020 into reality in our schools and classrooms.
• National Steering Committee(NSC), chaired by Dr K Kasturirangan, supported by the Mandate Group, along with the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) is heading the development of NCF.

IMPLEMENTATION

AT STATE LEVEL

• On the basis of district level consultations, mobile app survey and development of position papers by the State Focus Groups in 25 areas/themes identified as per the National Education Policy-2020, all states/UTs will first prepare their State Curriculum Frameworks (SCFs).
• States/UTs and Autonomous organization working under Ministry of Education will provide inputs for the NCFs.

AT NATIONAL LEVEL

• NCERT will conduct a survey on MyGov Portal and get feedback from diverse stakeholders on the issues related to curriculum implementation.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Mandate Document: Guidelines for the Development of the NCF under New Education Policy 2020 released earlier aims to bring holistic development of children, emphasis on skilling, vital role of teachers, learning in mother tongue, cultural rootedness and can be considered as a step towards decolonization of the Indian education system.
• Mandate group has set 28^thFebruary 2023 as the deadline for the revision of syllabi based on the new NCF.

• Industrialization, imperialism and colonialism have impacted this world which also made India a colony of the British Empire for two centuries.
• Political and economic might of Britain subdued Indian history influencing every milieu of Indian life.
• The colonial model of education under the patronage from the colonial-state displaced India’s indigenous education system and it became naturalis obligato (Natural Obligation) for the population of the colony.
• Although India got independence in 1947, the colonized educational model in India is still prevalent and this arises a need to decolonize Indian education System immediately.

Through the new curriculum, all students will develop

• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)
• Constitutional and other human values, including gender equality.
• A rootedness and pride in India.
• A sense of service (Seva) to others in need, to one’s country, and to the world.
• 21st century capacities, including speaking, writing, multilingualism, scientific temper, artistry and aesthetics, problem-solving, sustainable living, cultural literacy, socio-emotional capacities, and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to continue to learn on one’s own over a lifetime.
• Preparedness for higher education and gainful employment (a true multidisciplinary and holistic education will prepare students not just for their first job, but their second and their third!).

EDUCATION IN INDIA AT A GLANCE

• Constitutional Provisions

  • Part IVof Indian Constitution, Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), has a provision for state-funded as well as equitable and accessible education.
  • The 42^ndAmendment to the Constitution in 1976 moved education from the State to the Concurrent List.
    • The education policies by the Central government provides a broad direction and state governments are expected to follow it. But it is not mandatory,for instance Tamil Nadu does not follow the three-language formula prescribed by the first education policy in 1968.
  • The 86^thAmendment in 2002 made education an enforceable right under Article 21-A.
  • Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009aims to provide primary education to all children aged 6 to 14 years and enforces education as a Fundamental Right mandating 25% reservation for disadvantaged sections of the society

• Government Initiatives

  • Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS schools), Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV schools) and use of IT in education are a result of the NEP of 1986.

Sharing is caring!