NCERT to revise National Curriculum Framework based on New Education Policy

The National Council of Educational Research and Training had planned to review the National Curriculum Framework. The 14-year NCF will be reviewed with respect to the new National Education Policy. The NCERT is also expected to set up a committee for the same.

NCERT Director Hrushikesh Senapaty said that the council will soon announce the committee which will revisit the NCF to bring it at par with the New Education Policy.

National Curriculum Framework has until now been revised four times in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005. The newly proposed curriculum revision will be the fifth by the NCERT. Senapaty, while speaking to the media stated that the NCERT is just waiting for the new education policy to be finalized. A committee will soon be announced by the end of the month for the reviewing purpose. He, however, pointed out that the committee will be keeping the new education policy as the base for its curriculum revision and the textbooks will be revised as per the new framework.

He also added that the curriculum was last revised 14 years back however the textbooks were reviewed in the last two years. With the new education policy coming into place, the curriculum will need a thorough revision as per the new NEP.

The NCERT will also undertake a survey in six blocks in order to analyze the quality of the primary education available and the areas which require changes. Senapathy added that the blocks which will undergo the preliminary survey include Shillong, Mysore, Rajasthan, Bhopal, and Orissa. The survey will be conducted by a team of NCERT officials who will visit each of the blocks to conduct the survey. After receiving the findings the survey will be conducted in other areas and the findings of those surveys will be reviewed for the new curriculum framework.

A revision of the NCERT textbooks has also been recommended in the new education policy. The textbooks are to contain only the essential core material, keeping a discovery and analysis-based, engaging and enjoyable style of learning in mind.

The draft new education policy was submitted by a panel headed by former ISRO chief K Kastuirirangan to the MHRD Minister Ramesh Pokriyal when he took charge as HRD minister. This draft was then put into the public domain seeking feedback from the different stakeholders. It has been reported that over two lakh suggestions have been received by the HRD Minister regarding the new education policy.

The education policy currently followed was framed in 1986 following which a revision was conducted in 1992. The committee which drafted that new education policy had also taken into account the report of a panel headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian. The committee was formed by the HRD Ministry when it was headed by Minister Smriti Irani.

Also Read: HRD Ministry calls for meeting to discuss implementation of New National Education Policy