CBSE reiterates no change in curriculum for all classes other than Class 3, 6

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) reiterated that the curriculum for all classes other than Class 3 and 6 remains the same. “There is no change to the existing curriculum or textbooks. Schools are once again instructed to continue using the same textbooks for these classes as they did in the previous academic year (2023-24),” the CBSE Board said.

The CBSE provides an annual curriculum for Classes 9 and 12 containing academic content, syllabus for examinations with learning outcomes, pedagogical practices, and assessment guidelines.

The board said that it is mandatory for schools to ensure adherence to the curriculum directives and incorporate methodologies such as multilingualism, art-Integrated education, experiential learning, and pedagogical plans, wherever feasible.

In a letter dated March 18, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) informed CBSE that the new Class 3 and 6 textbooks will be published soon. “Additionally, a bridge course for class 6, and concise guidelines for class 3 are being developed by NCERT for facilitating a seamless transition for students to new pedagogical practices and areas of study aligned with NCF-SE 2023,” it said.

The board clarified that the syllabus and curriculum for the remaining classes will not be changed for the academic year 2024-25.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh recently criticized the Centre over the delay in publishing new Class 6 textbooks. Since the NCERT was tasked with the rationalization of textbooks, several controversies erupted over deletion and addition of topics.

In a recent incident, political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar objected to carrying their names in the textbooks and said they may take legal action if not withdrawn. The statement comes after the NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani said that the words "Bharat" and "India" will be used interchangeably in NCERT textbooks.