National Curriculum Framework: My Ideas Improving Basics


National Curriculum Framework: My Ideas Improving Basics


Introduction:

National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is a guideline for designing the school curriculum in India. Till now India followed the NCF published in 2005.
 The NCF 2022-23 is a key component of the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 which is a transformative initiative to prepare India to meet the challenges of the 21st-century knowledge society.
The curriculum framework provides guiding principles, goals, structure and elements for the development of curricula based on which the syllabus, teaching and learning materials, workbook, textbooks and assessment methods will be developed by respective states, boards and schools.

There are four NCFs published by NCERT( National Educational Research and Training) in the year 2005.
I. NCFSE: National Curriculum Framework for School Education. Includes elementary, foundation, middle and secondary.

II. NCFECCE: National Framework Curriculum for Early Childhood Care Education.

III. NCFTE: National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education.

IV. NCFAE: National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education 


The new national curriculum aims to ensure that every student of a school develops advanced knowledge in their later years so that they can build their future careers.


A-School
             A School

 

Indian Education System:

It is divided into different levels such as pre-primary, primary, elementary education, secondary education, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT) is the apex body for curriculum-related matters for school education in India.


Patterns Followed:

Most of the boards in India uniformly follow the 10+2+3 pattern of education. Where 10 years of primary education, is followed by 2 years of higher secondary and then 3 years of college education for a bachelor's degree. This pattern originated from the recommendations of the Education Commissioner of 1964-66.


National Education Policy (NEP) 2023:

The NEP 2023 is a fresh approach towards education in India.

The emphasis is given to flexibility, critical thinking and skill development.
The major highlights of the policy are:


1. Quality and affordable education for children of 3-18 years.


2. Holistic and multidisciplinary education.


3. Emphasis on the ability to apply concepts to solve problems.


4. Three-language formula i.e., regional, Hindi and English.


5. Usage of regional language in first five grades.


6. Addition of core concepts and vocational education. 


7. Usage of the latest technology to make it more accessible and effective.


8. Giving access to quality education in both rural and urban areas.


9. Improving the efficiency of teachers through different educational training programs.


10. More emphasis on vocational and technical education.


11. Setting National Higher Education Regulatory Council to regulate Higher Education.


12. Providing higher education institutions with better autonomy for academic mobility.


13. Policy to introduce 5+3+3+4 education structure.


14. Aims to make an increase in Gross Enrollment Ratio to higher education by 50%.   


What is a 5+3+3+4 system?

The system will work as follows:

* The age 3-8 years (5years) will be the Foundational stage including preschool and classes 1st and 2nd.

* At the age of 8-11 years (3years) the Preparatory stage includes classes 3-5.

* At the age of 11-14 years (3 years) Middle stage, including classes 6th to 8th.

* At the age of 14-18 years ( 4 years) Secondary stage, including classes 9th to 12th.

NEP school guidelines include many, 
1. Aganwadis/ preschool.
2. School preparation module for class 1st entrants.
3. National Foundation Literacy & Numeracy Mission.



My Ideas:

My Idea is to improve the basic knowledge for a better higher in-depth understanding of the subject, which I think lacks in most of us, even after getting higher certifications.

Acknowledging the steps taken by NCF to make a change in the school curriculum I am just pointing out my concern.

Together being a student, a teacher and a parent I have recognized some psychological aspects of students and formatted my curriculum.


School bag-National-Curriculum-Framework
 My Curriculum 


My curriculum:

 For those in the age group kindergarten, it is best to keep the children in touch with the truth that they are going to school to learn, play and make friends. Now they should get to know what is a school.

Once the pupil is in 1st standard there should be only simple monthly class tests to make them habituated to testing methods. Upto standard 3rd things will be the same.

12th
Age Std/Class Syllabus Examination (yes/no)
6+ 1st Full No ( only monthly test)
7+ 2nd Full No ( only monthly test)
8+ 3rd Full No ( only monthly test)
9+ 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 1st,2nd3rd(revise),4th(full) No (only monthly test)
10+ 4th, 5th 4th(revise), 5th(full) A.E(for 4th), MT(for 5th)
11+ 5th, 6th,7th 5th(revise), 6th & 7th(full) A.E(for 5th), MT(for 6th,7th)
12+ 6th, 7th 6th & 7th ( revise) Annual Examination
13+ 8th 8th Annual Examination
14+ 9th 9th Annual Examination
15+ 10th 10th Board/ Annual Exams
16+ 11th 11th Annual Examination
17+ 12th
Board/ Annual Exam

*MT- Monthly Test
*AE- Annual Examination

I want to emphasise that in this period of education when the student reaches standard 4th at age 9+, should be again made to repeat the syllabus of class I-III, all as revision, and in the same year, the std lV syllabus should be completed. No exams, just monthly tests.


At 10+ age the student will revise the 4th syllabus and study the 5th syllabus. (Examination of 4th standard syllabus and monthly tests for 5th standard).


At 11+ the student is aged enough to revise in short about the 5th syllabus for which the annual examination will be put up, and study two years of the syllabus of 6th and 7th standard. No examination.

The age of a VI standard, child will be 12 years or more. Research studies show that at this age the brain stops growing in size but the development still goes on. Abstract thinking, logical thinking and problem-solving become easier.

At this age, the children display abilities such as:

1. Long-range planning.

2. Ability to evaluate feelings.

3. Strong hold on language and communication.

4. They start understanding the logic behind situations and problems.

5. Try to understand the causes and effects.

6. They begin applying justice and equality concepts.
 
( The organisational skills and impulse control which is done by the prefrontal cortex, is still maturing.)

So by the age of 12 years, when the student is usually in class VI, he/she gets a very clear idea about the subjects and their topics, which are taught till now.

After studying the 6th and 7th standard syllabus at 11+, again next year, by the age of 12+, the same syllabus is repeated with the formal annual examination. 

So by the age 13+, the student is in 8th standard and the whole basic concepts about every subject as per syllabus is made clear.

After this age, the classes and studies will go on as it is now. By the age of 17+, the student will sit for their school final exams. 

The difference will be that the revision will build a more strong base for their subject learning and understanding.

I want to add that I appreciate the effort taken by the Ministry of Education, Government of India and NCERT for carrying out the massive intensive public consultation process for the formulation of NCFs, and the need for future educational programs by developing DiSaNC ( Digital Survey for National Curriculum).

This initiative has added my attention towards the importance of the necessity and the possibility that even I can place my idea regarding the topic. This is why, I have taken the initiative to put forward my thought and idea.

The survey will surely generate a promising strategy for a better educational curriculum giving more concept-based learning. Hope it has fetched a good response and result. The points covered were really promising.



Conclusion:

From my own experience as a school student, with students I know, and my being a teacher afterwards, I know that when something gets exposed for some time, it becomes easier to understand and can be executed more easily. That's the reason a 4th-5th standard student finds the primary syllabus so simple.

So if the curriculum is crafted such that the pupil at an age when gains more mature understanding,  is again taught the basics, will surely get a clear concept of the subject.

Also, I think teachers' time-to-time training for the latest updates in their respective subject and their attitude towards students' all-round development, will have a great impact on students acquiring quality knowledge. Teachers play the most important role in building the base of this whole structure. Their attitude and selection can make a whole lot of difference in building a nation. 

I don't think I can make my point of view more understandable than this.

Hope it gets a thought. I have put forward my thoughts based on practical experience of life. Maybe there are other factors which don't work that easily.

Just a request to give it a thought. Thank you.

Note: Please do leave a comment on your thought on the present school curriculum and about my above-mentioned idea. Thank you.




Appreciation for giving your precious time to my thought. If you find it valuable, you can check out a short story related to school and teaching.


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