Panel finalises national curriculum framework

The Union government-appointed national steering committee on Wednesday finalised the new national curriculum framework for school education, people familiar with the development said.

The Union government-appointed national steering committee on Wednesday finalised the new national curriculum framework (NCF) for school education, people familiar with the development said.

The draft NCF had suggested various changes in the school education system.

Majority of the suggestions made in the draft NCF, released by the Union education ministry in April, will continue in the final framework, which is likely to be released within the next few days, a senior official from the ministry said, requesting anonymity.

The draft NCF released had suggested various changes in the school education system — including modular exams for classes 11 and 12; introduction of a semester system for class 12; emphasis on multidisciplinary education in classes 11 and 12 with “no hard separation” between science, arts, and commerce streams; besides opting for innovative ways of assessments, including self-assessment.

The national steering committee, headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chief K Kasturirangan, met in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the senior official cited above said.

“The committee met and finalised the NCF for school education,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “No decision was taken on making learning Indian languages mandatory for classes 11 and 12.”

Though the draft did not mention making Indian languages mandatory for classes 11 and 12, there was a demand for the same from some sections of the society. The draft also laid emphasis on teaching in mother tongue in the foundational learning stage, as envisaged in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

When asked if the committee decided to reconsider its proposal of introducing a semester system in classes 11 and 12, the official said, “There has been no change as yet. Majority of the suggestions made in the draft will remain in the final framework.”

The draft NCF, advocating for a semester system, had said: “This phase of the Secondary Stage would be divided into semesters and each choice-based course would be for a semester. Students must complete 16 choice-based courses to complete Grade 12.”

“The final curriculum framework is expected to be released within the next few days,” the official added.