The National Curriculum 2023, as envisioned in NEP 2020, aims to positively transform India’s school education system by creating positive changes in the pedagogy of curriculum.
The NCF focuses on the whole school environment and culture of the school for the holistic development of students and making their learning experience practical and useful like never before.
NCF Objectives
The CBSE syllabus is based on the objectives of NCF. The objectives of NCF based on the ideas devised in the past are as follows:
- Rote learning should be abolished.
- Knowledge should be connected to the school’s outside world.
- The examination should become more flexible and an integrated part of the classroom.
- The curriculum is to be enriched and should be beyond the textbooks.
The focuses of NCF are as follows:
- Learning should be made a joyful experience and without burden.
- Learning beyond textbooks must form the basis for examinations.
- Examinations must be stress-free for children.
- Major changes in syllabus design are recommended in NCF.
- Individual self-reliance and a sense of dignity must be developed.
- The development of social relationships and oneness in society is promoted by NCF.
- A child-centered approach must be followed in every school.
- Child retention until the age of 14 is promoted in NCF.
- Universal enrollment of a child is promoted in NCF.
The CBSE syllabus is based on the National Curriculum Framework and various subjects, their topics to be included, and the duration of how long a topic will go on in the classroom is described under NCF. Various Subjects’ guidelines described are as follows:
- Languages – Three language formulas are to be followed; the first language taught to a child would be the mother tongue. The second language and third language would be either modern Indian language or English or Hindi, depending upon the state.
- Mathematics – The requirement for all children to learn mathematics is emphasized in NCF. The teaching pedagogy must be made to promote positive learning material in mathematics. The students’ interest must be generated so that they voluntarily acquire skills that are beyond the basic skills. A good amount of instructional time and problem-solving time must be devoted so that students learn mathematics at their best and become self-reliant, confident mathematics lovers and problem solvers.
- Computers – As per the guideless of NCF:
- The computer introduction must move students’ knowledge from a predefined set of outcomes and develop sixteen wide-explanatory reasoning along with higher-order skills.
- Students should be motivated to develop the best research skills, interpret the knowledge gained from research, and create new knowledge instead of being passive users.
- NCF fosters the adaptation of different learning styles of individuals.
- Flexibility in the curriculum at the minimum of primary education is encouraged.
- Flexibility in assessment patterns is encouraged by NCF.
- Sciences – NCF describes learning science by:
- Pedagogy of science must include that students learn the principles of science and its application in real life.
- The learning of science must be in tandem with the cognitive development stage of the students.
- Students must acquire both the theoretical as well as practical skills to enter the world of work.
- Students’ natural curiosity, aesthetic appreciation, and creativity must be nurtured.
- The values to preserve the environment are to be nurtured.
- The critical thinking skills of students are to be nurtured.
- Social Sciences – As per the NCF, social science is taught to make students socially acceptable citizens. Students should be able to collect data and process it. Students must be able to derive conclusions from problems.
- Art Education – Art education must develop students’ overall personality and aesthetic sense for culture and others’ work.
- Health and Physical Education – With the integration of Health and physical education, students’ overall well-being development is targeted. Also, to inculcate the values of teamwork, leadership, Health and physical education are included in the school syllabus.
To Summarize
The National Curriculum Framework forms the basis for the CBSE syllabus, textbooks, activities etc. The overall objective for NCF is to shift rote learning to learning with practical experiences. Furthermore, NCF aims at the holistic development of students, making them socially acceptable citizens, problem solvers, rational thinkers etc. NCF has given guidelines that are to be followed in the formation and implication of the CBSE syllabus in various subjects so that the students learn various subjects with utmost interest leading to their becoming masters of subjects resulting in their overall development.