National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023

The National Curriculum Framework, after its adoption by the CBSE and other state boards, will also?restructure various other aspects of the classroom, including choice of subjects, the pattern of teaching, and assessment.

• The NCF brings to life the aims and commitments of the NEP
• The 5+3+3+4 Curricular and Pedagogical structure of school education is reflected in the learning standards, the content, the pedagogy, and the assessment approaches
• The curricular and pedagogical structure and the curricular framework for school education will therefore be guided by a 5+3+3+4 design, consisting of the Foundational Stage (in two parts, that is, 3 years of Anganwadi/pre-school + 2 years in primary school in Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5, covering ages 8-11), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8, covering ages 11-14), and Secondary Stage (Grades 9-12 in two phases, i.e., 9 and 10 in the first and 11 and 12 in the second, covering ages 14-18)

What are the proposed changes in subjects and exams at high-school stage?

Choice of subjects and exams in classes IX-XII

• Over two years, in class IX and X, the students will have to study?16 courses?categorised under eight curricular areas.
• Students will be given a choice to pick 16 courses from eight curricular areas.
• The suggested curricular areas are Humanities (that includes languages), Mathematics & Computing, Vocational Education, Physical Education, Arts, Social Science, Science, and Inter-disciplinary Areas.

Links between class IX and X

• Students will have to clear?eight board exams?to obtain the final certification which will factor in their performances in exams held over two years.
• Each of these exams will assess their hold on courses they learnt in class IX and X.
• Under the current system, there are no such links between class IX and X and students across most boards have to pass at least five subjects to clear class X.
• In other words, modular Board Examinations will be offered as opposed to a single examination at the end of the year.
• The final certification will be based on the cumulative result of each of the examinations.

How will teaching-learning change if the recommendations are implemented?

• At the foundational level

For children aged 3-8 enrolled in grades between?preschool and class II, the pedagogical approach suggested is play based.

It adds that textbooks are to be used from Grade 1 and most of the content should be concrete materials – toys, puzzles, and manipulatives.

• At the preparatory stage (For grades III, IV, V)

Children are to be introduced to textbooks on languages, mathematics, while also retaining the activity and discovery-based approach.

• The middle stage (class VI, VII, VIII)

In the middle stage (class VI, VII, VIII), natural as well as social sciences will be introduced.

As per the NCF, the textbooks need to play a central role in mediating the content in the Middle Stage.

• The Secondary Stage (Class 9, 10, 11, 12)

Broad Curricular Areas (e.g., Science, Social Science, Humanities) will be offered in Grade 9 and 10 to enable breadth. Learning Standards are defined for this phase, and it is expected that all students attain these learning standards

Disciplines (e.g., History, Physics, Language) within each Curricular Area will be offered in Grade 11 and 12 to enable depth. The students have a choice in selecting specific areas and disciplines. They make these choices based on their interests and their future plans either in the world of work or in higher education after their school completion

Design for Grade 9 - 10

Design for Grade 11 - 12

When will NCF 2023 come into effect?

• The government recently announced that textbooks based on the?revised NCF?will be taught in schools starting from the 2024-25 academic session.
• But a specific timeline on the implementation of the changes on exams, assessment and subject design has not been made available yet.

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