Following our series of blog posts on the salient features of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, we bring you a subsequent blog post that introduces you to further features of the policy:

A national guide for school education: The NCFSE

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is developing a new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). This will serve as a guiding document for schools across India. The NCFSE will be reviewed and updated every 5-10 years. This ensures the curriculum stays relevant and incorporates feedback from educators.

The NCFSE is crucial in shaping the direction of school education in India by outlining:

• Learning objectives: What students should ideally learn at each stage.
• Pedagogical approaches: Effective teaching methods to achieve these learning goals.
• Curriculum content: The essential knowledge and skills students should acquire.

National textbooks with a local touch

This section addresses curriculum materials and aims to strike a balance between national standards and local needs.

• National Core with Local Flavour: Textbooks will cover the essential learning objectives set by the National Curriculum Framework. This could include local examples, case studies or historical events.
• State-led Curriculum and Textbooks: States will have the autonomy to develop their curriculum. Similarly, they can create textbooks based on national resources while incorporating local content as needed.

Strengthening knowledge of India

This section emphasizes a deeper understanding of India’s rich heritage and future aspirations within the school curriculum. It includes the following:

• A Broader Perspective: Students will be exposed to the knowledge of India across various timeframes, from ancient civilizations to modern developments and future aspirations.
• Integration throughout the Curriculum: Knowledge of India will be woven into various subjects throughout the school experience.
• Celebrating Indian Knowledge Systems: The curriculum will incorporate traditional Indian knowledge systems, including tribal knowledge and indigenous learning methods, alongside contemporary subjects. This may involve specific courses on topics like traditional medicine, forest management or sustainable agriculture.
• Learning from Inspiring Figures: Students will be introduced to inspirational figures from Indian history and modern times, across various fields like science and beyond, through video documentaries. This aims to spark curiosity and inspire future generations.
• Ethical Development: The curriculum will equip students with a strong foundation in ethical decision-making from a young age. This will gradually expand through the years to encompass issues like cheating, tolerance and social responsibility.
• Value Inculcation: The initiative emphasizes nurturing traditional Indian values alongside core human values and those enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
• Constitutional Literacy: Excerpts from the Indian Constitution will be considered essential reading for all students to develop an understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
• Health and Wellbeing: The curriculum will cover essential health topics such as preventive healthcare, mental health, nutrition, hygiene, disaster preparedness and first aid. Additionally, students will learn about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol through scientific explanations.

Support for gifted students

The NEP recognizes the need to support and challenge students with exceptional abilities or talents. They plan to achieve this by:

• Teacher Training and Resources: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) will collaborate to develop specific guidelines and resources for educators on effectively teaching gifted students. B.Ed. programmes (Bachelor of Education) may also offer specialization in gifted education to create a pool of qualified teachers.
• In-Classroom Support: Teachers will be encouraged to identify and support students with unique interests or talents within the classroom setting. This may involve providing them with supplementary enrichment materials and guidance to help them explore their passions.
• Competition and Recognition: National Olympiads and subject-specific competitions will be conducted across the country to provide a platform for gifted students to challenge themselves and showcase their talents.
• To promote collaborative learning, online apps featuring quizzes, competitions, personalized assessments and enrichment materials and online communities will be developed where students can connect based on their interests.
• Schools will implement smart classrooms in phases to gradually integrate technology such as interactive whiteboards and digital learning tools.

Stay tuned for more as we continue to explore the transformative features of NEP 2020 in our upcoming blog posts.