Education ministry invites comments on draft National Curriculum Framework for school education

NEW DELHI: The ministry of education (MoE) has today announced some major changes in the school and higher education. It issued a draft National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in line with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) to be implemented in the upcoming academic year 2024 and invited suggestions.

The NEP 2020 recommended a shift from 10+12 structure to 5+3+3+4 and emphasises on developmental perspectives suggesting curricular and pedagogical shifts at different stages- foundational, preparatory, middle and secondary. For classes 11 and 12, the same set of eight curricular areas will continue to be on offer, but choice-based courses will be designed based on the disciplines.

It proposes doing away with the current practice of dividing streams into science, arts or humanities and commerce for Classes 11 and 12.

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The NCF draft was prepared by the national steering committee, headed by former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan. In a step towards implementing NEP 2020, four National Curriculum Frameworks have been initiated - NCF for School Education, NCF for Early Childhood Care and Education, NCF for Teacher Education and NCF for Adult Education.

Inputs were sought for the National Curriculum Frameworks for a diverse stakeholders including teachers, students, ministries, educational institutions, subject experts, scholars, childcare personnel etc.

“In digital mode, Mobile App survey has received feedback from around 1,50,000 stakeholders. The Citizen Centric Survey, launched by the Ministry of Education in August 2022, has received inputs from more than 12,00,000 stakeholders. Inputs are being received in all areas of ECCE, School Education, Teacher Education and Adult Education,” the ministry of education said.

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The National Curriculum Framework for the foundational stage had been brought out and launched by the Ministry of Education on October 20, 2022.

The ministry further said: “While giving your feedback, it needs to be kept in view that this is a pre-draft of the NCF-SE which still requires several rounds of discussion within the National Steering Committee. Feedback from diverse stakeholders will further help NSC to look critically into different modalities and approaches that this framework is proposing.”

“Feedback is solicited specifying the stage of school education, curricular area, school governance, assessment, etc. You may send your feedback on the following email addresses- ncf.ncert@ciet.nic.in,” the ministry added.