The interim report on the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education, which is being revised after 15 years, will be submitted by December and the new curriculum is expected to be ready by March next year, according to the HRD ministry.

“The new NCF for School Education has been initiated. NCERT will be expected to make changes in the textbooks in accordance with the new NCF. Subject experts will initiate this process for school education, and give interim report by December 2020. The new NCF is expected to be ready by March 2021,” the HRD ministry said.

The NCF has been revised four times so far — in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005. The new proposed revision will be the fifth of the framework.

The revision of the curriculum framework will be in sync with the implementation of the examination reforms such as uniform assessment and evaluation system under the proposed National Assessment Centre as proposed by the New Education Policy draft.

The ministry has directed the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) that while redesigning textbooks, to ensure that nothing but the core content is placed in them. 

“Also, the cognitive load of the textbooks is too high. Additional areas, such as creative thinking, life skills, Indian ethos, art, and integration, need to be integrated. NCERT will also start working on the layout and design of the new textbooks well in advance. However, the new textbooks shall be written based on the new NCF,” the ministry said,

PM e-Vidya for access to digital education

The HRD ministry said that under Atmanirbhar Bharat, for PM E-Vidya, NCERT is also expected to prepare content for Class 1-12 for SWAYAM PRABHA channels (one class, one channel) and start the channels by August this year.

In May, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that PM e-Vidya programme for multi-mode access to digital education will be launched and that 100 universities will be permitted to start online courses.

PM e-Vidya programme will consist of ‘Diksha’ involving e-content and QR coded textbooks for all grades and will be called as ‘one nation, one digital platform’.

Besides this, one earmarked TV channel per class from 1 to 12, also named as ‘one class, one channel’, will also be rolled out.

It will also envisage extensive use of radio, community radio and podcasts and special e-content for visually and hearing impaired.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store