The National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21^st century in India and aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives of our country. It called for the development of a new curriculum framework (NCF). Of late, the Central government released a draft NCF 2023.

National Curriculum Framework Meaning

The general policy framework and objectives for education in India are laid forth in a document called the National Curriculum Framework. It outlines the objectives and structure for education from kindergarten to class 12. It has been created by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which updates it periodically to reflect societal changes.

Tracing its Origin: Before the present NCF 2023, the national curricular frameworks have undergone four updates to date: NCF 1975, NCF 1988, NCF 2000, and NCF 2005.

National Curriculum Framework 2023: The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) aims to devise four National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs), for which a comprehensive strategy has been worked out jointly by the Ministry of Education and NCERT.

• National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE)
• National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE)
• National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE)
• National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education (NCFAE)

The National Education Policy 2020 was presented on July 29, 2020, as a project to further the objective of giving all Indian students a 21st-century education. It is a bold decision to renovate a lot of the present Indian educational system’s components. Along with the national curriculum framework for the foundational stage, the approach aims to create a system that integrates new-age learning with the fundamentals of the Indian educational system.

According to Union Minister of Education, Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, the NEP is a guiding philosophy that would bring about the urgent transformation that the Indian educational system sorely needs. This policy aims to alter the nation’s educational framework, particularly National Curriculum Framework education. This will satisfy the needs of new-age learning within the confines of our traditional educational system.

Relevance of NCF 2023 in the current education system

The National Curriculum Framework 2023 provides recommendations and implications for the present education system. It is a document that outlines the learning outcomes and knowledge that students should acquire at each stage of their schooling.

Educational Objectives of National Curriculum Framework

The National Curriculum Framework 2023 has the potential to transform the education system by promoting equitable, quality education for all students. Overall, the objective is to prepare the workforce for building a developed nation by 2047. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education is designed to achieve the objectives explained below.

• Developing equitable and inclusive education: The NEP promotes a child-centric approach to education and encourages students to think creatively and critically. Therefore, the draft of the National Curriculum Framework 2023 education aims to prioritise the development of an inclusive educational system. The purpose is to meet the needs of all students, especially those from marginalised groups. It values the fact that every child is unique. Hence freedom, openness, acceptance, significance, belonging, and challenge in the classroom, must be inclusive and provide a supportive learning environment.
• Focusing on human capacities: The framework also emphasizes the importance of inclusive education, highlighting the needs of children with disabilities and those coming from marginalized communities. It focuses on values, and dispositions in school education.
• 21st-century skills: The NCF 2023 acknowledges the importance of 21st-century skills in preparing students for the future. It recognizes that in addition to subject-specific knowledge, students need to develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Hence, by incorporating these skills into the curriculum, the framework aims to equip students with the tools they need to navigate the ever-changing global landscape and succeed in their personal and professional lives.
• Aiming for holistic development: The new national curriculum framework places a strong emphasis on the child’s holistic development, which includes their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. The purpose is to create well-rounded people who are equipped to handle the problems of the twenty-first century.
• Addressing real-world challenges: NCF 2023 aims to address the real challenges of the Indian education system. It recommends a shift towards multidisciplinary learning, as it prepares students to face real-world challenges by providing a holistic understanding of various subjects. Students should have the chance to learn via experience, through things like projects, field excursions, and experiments. Students would have a greater comprehension of the ideas and learn how to apply them in actual circumstances as a result of this.

Curricular and pedagogical restructuring at different stages

Curricular Aim of National Curriculum Framework: The new National Curriculum Framework 2023 for school education aims to emphasise conceptual understanding rather than rote learning. Hence, it encourages the development of capacities and values. These capacities are critical thinking, decision-making, creativity, and ethical, human, and constitutional values.

NCF 2023: New Schooling Stages

As per NCF 2023, the pedagogical structure of the school will shift from a 10+2 to a 5+3+3+4 structure. This complies 6-fold learning and 5-fold moral development approach. It will cover learners aged 3 to 18 years in four schooling stages.

These four stages of schooling are based on the styles of learning best suited for those age groups:

• Foundational Stage for ages 3-8
• Preparatory Stage for ages 8-11
• Middle Stage for ages 11-14
• Secondary Stage for ages 14-18

Two Phases of Secondary Stage in NCF 2023 Education

The Secondary Stage will now have two Phases – Grades 9 and 10, and Grades 11 and 12. Accordingly, in 10 years, all school systems should move to a single Secondary Stage, where students have choice and flexibility right from Grade 9, following the current curricular structure of Grades 11 and 12. Thus, realising the NEP vision of the Secondary Stage as being ‘four years of multidisciplinary study’ across all Curricular Areas. The idea is to provide for a flexible and learner-centred curriculum at the secondary level.

NCF Focuses on Art Education and Interdisciplinary Areas

The NCF 2023 emphasises multidisciplinary, holistic, and integrated education which implies that it recognizes the interconnected nature of knowledge. It acknowledges that the traditional siloed approach to education, where subjects are taught in isolation, may not adequately prepare students for the complexities of the real world. By encouraging students to explore connections between different subjects, the framework aims to foster a more integrated and holistic understanding of the subjects.

Changes in subjects such as Social Science and Mathematics

To ensure the unity and integrity of all knowledge NCF education focuses on this across the Sciences, Social Sciences, Art, Humanities, and Sports for a multidisciplinary world. Science Education and Social Science Education will have separate sets of Learning Standards at the middle school stage. The concepts related to the environment are incorporated into the fields of science and social science. We gain an understanding of the interactions between the natural world and the human world by using both scientific and social scientific approaches to research.

Modifications in Board examinations for Grades 10 and 12 as per NCF 2023

The Board examinations for Grades 10 and 12 will be modified to put less emphasis on months of education and memory and more on measuring competency understanding and achievement. They will be “easier” and every student will have the chance to take board exams at least twice throughout the academic year. The highest score will be taken into account, reducing the stress brought on by high-stakes exams. Additionally, the Board examination for a topic will be offered immediately after the “school term” (also known as “semester-wise” or “on-demand” Board examinations).

Challenges and Potential Drawbacks of NCF 2023

• The implementation of NCF 2023 requires a sound ecosystem and trained quality teachers. Ensuring the availability of trained teachers should be a priority. Teachers must be the torchbearers of all educational improvement. They should be enabled and motivated in every way possible. There is a need for awareness and training at the teacher level.
• However, the NCF 2023 pdf states that a Pre-service Teacher Education shall help in achieving the objectives of this NCF, as mentioned in NEP 2020. The National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCF-TE) associated with this NCF shall have details related to this.
• Even though, challenges like resistance to change and adapting to the new approach can cause potential roadblocks.
• This comprehensive document does not adequately address the provision of special education inclusion. It just mentions that infrastructure must ensure safety and inclusion.

Timeline for implementation of National Curriculum Framework 2023

The textbooks based on the revised NCF to be taught in schools starting from the 2024-25 academic session. Therefore, this indicates that starting with that academic year, the revisions outlined in the NCF will be implemented.

Assessment and Evaluation: The National Curriculum Framework 2023 places a strong emphasis on assessment and evaluation practices that promote authentic learning. It recognizes the limitations of traditional rote memorization and standardized testing and encourages educators to assess student learning through a variety of methods, such as projects, portfolios, and real-world applications. This shift in assessment practices aims to allow students to demonstrate their understanding and skills in meaningful and contextually relevant ways.

In conclusion, the National Curriculum Framework 2023 is a comprehensive document that seeks to transform the education system by promoting a child-centric, inclusive, and multidisciplinary approach to learning. By integrating 21st-century skills and adopting innovative assessment practices, this framework has the potential to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to thrive in the modern world. It sets the stage for an equitable and quality education system that prepares students for success in both their personal and professional lives.

Key TAKEAWAYS of National Curriculum Framework:

• This NCF renews the focus on Art Education, Physical Education and Well-being, and Vocational Education and brings them into the core curriculum.
• To provide equal opportunities and reduce the burden on students. It provides students a chance to take board exams at least twice throughout the academic year.
• Almost 20-25% weightage on demonstration-based assessment in Science and other core papers. Emphasis on demonstration-based assessment in Vocational Education, Art Education, Physical Education, and well-being papers.
• The NCF education emphasizes the development of 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.
• NCF 2023 introduces a greater degree of choice-based learning for learners in the Secondary and Senior Secondary stages. This enables learners to pursue their interests and develop their talents.
• The NCF 2023 for school education covers learners aged 3 to 18 years. Schooling shall be four stages following a 5+3+3+4 model.

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Several commissions have been set up for planning the education policies of India. The right to education granted in the constitution highlights its intense importance.

To achieve this very aim various initiatives have been undertaken. It is being achieved in bits and pieces if not in total. For instance: 82 percent of residential areas have a primary school within a radius of one kilometre. Also, 55 lakh teachers spread over 10 lakh schools educate about 2,025 lakh children.

Still, several issues of concern, like “drop-out” at the elementary stage remain uncontrolled. Also, the quality of education is the most critical aspect to ponder over. Certain goals were set by 1968 policy based on the Kothari Commission recommendations. It was successful in achieving most of these goals. The National Policy on Education 1986 acknowledged these achievements. It also proposed a national system of education based on the accepted structure of 10+2+3.

Of late, the present government formed National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). It is the first education policy of the 21st century. It replaces the thirty-four-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1986.

Let’s look at the salient features of this new Education Policy 2020 and what does it ensure at the school level:

UNIVERSAL ACCESS AT ALL LEVELS OF SCHOOLING (from pre-primary school to grade 12)

The policy aims for a cent per cent enrollment ratio in school education by 2030. To achieve this goal certain steps and initiatives will be undertaken like:

1. Providing Infrastructure: It ensures the provision of effective and enough infrastructure. So that it assists in the smooth functioning of the educational process.
2. Checking Dropouts: Alternative and innovative education centers will help to check school dropouts. It will help to bring back the dropouts into mainstream education. Universal participation in school is planned by tracking students and their learning levels.
3. Counsellors: Well-trained social workers or consellors will work with students and their parents. To ensure that all school-age children are attending and learning in school. These counsellors will work in unison with schools/school complexes and teachers.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE EDUCATION

NEP 2020 emphasizes the criticality of the early years. It plans to ensure quality early childhood care and education by 2025. This focuses on all children between 3-6 years.

NCERT will develop a National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCPFECCE) for children up to the age of 8.

Ministries of HRD, Women and Child Development (WCD), Health and Family Welfare (HFW), and Tribal Affairs will execute the planning and implementation of early childhood education.

The 10+2 structure in school education gets replaced with 5+3+3+4 covering ages 3-18. This means there will be 3 years of the curriculum framework for Anganwadi/preschool level and 12 years for school in this 5+3+3+4 model.

Currently, children in the age group of 3-6 are not covered in the 10+2 structure as Class 1 begins at age 6. The new 5+3+3+4 structure focuses on a strong base of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) from age 3.

Balavatika: For universal access to ECCE, Anganwadi Centres will be ramped up. Before the age of 5, every child will move to a “Preparatory Class” or “Balavatika” (that is, before Class 1), which has an ECCE-qualified teacher.

An expanded and strengthened system will be put in place of early childhood education institutions to deliver ECCE. This consists of:

a) stand-alone Anganwadis

b) Anganwadis co-located with primary schools

c) pre-primary schools/sections covering at least age 5 to 6 years (along with existing primary schools)

d) stand-alone pre-schools

NEW CURRICULAR AND PEDAGOGICAL STRUCTURE:

We will have a 5+3+3+4 design corresponding to the age ranges of 3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years of pedagogical structure.

It will consist of:

• Foundational Stage (3+2 years; both together covering ages 3-8): It will have flexible, multilevel, play/activity-based learning and ECCE pedagogy and curriculum.
• Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5, covering ages 8-11): It will introduce experiential learning across all the subjects – sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences, and humanities.
• Middle Stage (Grades 6-8, covering ages 11-14): It will have a subject-oriented pedagogical and curricular style.
• 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): It will open an area for greater depth and greater critical thinking. Students will give attention to life aspirations, will have greater flexibility to choose a subject. Options for an exit at grade 10 and re-enter at a later stage in grade 11 will be provided.

The curricula will aim for the holistic development of learners. It will equip them with key skills. It will reduce curricular content to enhance essential learning and critical thinking. It will give a greater focus on experiential learning. The aim of NEP is to give equal emphasis on all subjects – science, social sciences, art, languages, sports, mathematics. It also stresses the integration of vocational and academic streams in school.

NCERT will develop a new and comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education, NCFSE 2020-21.

Quality textbook materials will be developed by NCERT and SCERTs

States will prepare their own curricula and prepare textbooks incorporating state flavour and material. The availability of textbooks in all regional languages will be a top priority. Reducing the weight of school bags and textbooks will also be ensured. Suitable changes will be made in the curriculum load.

MULTILINGUALISM AND THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

• Language options: NEP 2020 lays great emphasis on promoting multilingualism. It will help children know and learn about the rich and vast array of languages of their country. The medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, (preferably till Grade 8 and beyond), will be the home language/ mother-tongue /local language/regional language.
• Fun Project Activity: Students will take part in a fun project/activity on ‘The Languages of India’. It will be sometime in Grades 6-8, such as, under the ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ initiative.
• Promoting Sanskrit: Sanskrit will be an alternative at all levels of school and higher education. It will be for student enrichment, including as an option in the three-language formula.

ATTAINING FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY

The policy focuses on the development of early language and mathematical skills from Grades 1-3 by 2025. For this, a National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy will be set up.

Various strategies for it will be undertaken. Like:

1. Play-based school preparation module for all Grade 1 students to develop school readiness
2. Increased focus on reading, writing, speaking, counting, arithmetic, and mathematical thinking
3. Continuous assessment and adaptive testing
4. National repository of high-quality resources on foundational literacy and numeracy
5. Filling teacher vacancies
6. Peer-tutoring and volunteer activities
7. Setting up school libraries in every village, etc.

A National Book Promotion Policy will be formed. Initiatives to ensure the availability, accessibility, quality, and readership of books will be undertaken.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Exposure: Students will be exposed to vocational studies through school and higher education. This exposure will begin at the early ages in middle and secondary school. Quality vocational education will be integrated into higher education.

The vocational education in secondary schools will be in a phased manner. For this, the secondary schools will collaborate with ITIs, polytechnics, local industry, etc.

Each child will learn at least one vocation (like coding) and be exposed to several more.

Internship & Hands-on Experience: A 10-day bagless period will be introduced. This will be sometime during Grades 6-8. This will be done for various types of enrichment activities involving arts, quizzes, sports, and vocational crafts.

• The students will intern with local vocational experts such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists, etc. to get a hands-on experience.
• Similar internship opportunities will be offered to learn vocational subjects for students throughout Grades 6-12, including during holiday periods.
• Vocational courses through online mode will also be available in tandem with digital education.

ASSESSMENT REFORMS

1. Formative Assessment: A shift from summative assessment to regular and formative assessment is planned. This is more competency-based and promotes learning and development. It tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity.
2. Say bye to coaching classes: Board exams for Grades 10 and 12 continue to exist. But it will be reformed to cut the need for taking coaching classes. Board exams will be redesigned for holistic development. It will be made ‘easier’ by testing core capacities or competencies.
3. Options in Boards: All students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions. One during any given school year, the main examination, and one for improvement, if desired.
4. New Assessment Centre: An appropriate body will conduct school examinations for Grades 3, 5, and 8. A new National Assessment Centre called PARAKH will be set up. It stands for Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. It will be a standard-setting body for setting norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India. It will guide the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertake the National Achievement Survey (NAS), check the achievement of learning outcomes, and encourage and help school boards to shift their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century.

FAIR AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

1. NEP 2020 aims to ensure that no child loses any opportunity to learn and excel because of the circumstances of birth or background.
2. A separate Gender Inclusion fund is planned. Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups is to be created.
3. Children with disabilities will take part in the regular schooling process from the foundational stage to higher education.
4. Recruitment of special educators with cross-disability training. Resource centres will be established wherever needed, especially for children with severe or multiple disabilities.
5. Schools and school complexes will be supported for providing all children with disabilities accommodations and support mechanisms tailored to suit their needs and to ensure their full participation in the classroom.
6. Assistive devices and appropriate technology-based tools will be made available to help children with disabilities. This will help them to integrate comfortably into classrooms and engage with teachers and their peers.

BAL BHAVANS: Every State/District will be encouraged to establish “Bal Bhavans” as a special daytime boarding school, to participate in art-related, career-related, and play-related activities. The unutilized capacity of school infrastructure will be used to promote social, intellectual, and volunteer activities for the community and to promote social cohesion during non-teaching / schooling hours and may be used as a “Samajik Chetna Kendra”.

The new education policy has a huge array of alternatives not only for the students of higher grades but also for the school students. Based on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability, this policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student.

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