National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005) - A Complete Guide

Important Components of National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005)

The following are the important components of the National Curriculum Framework...

#1: Social Context

Students belonging from disadvantaged sections of the society living in rural areas are especially in vulnerable conditions due to the inadequate educational system. The gender bias running along with the families also is a major problem as it acts as a deterrent for the girls who want to go to school. But they are not able to attain education because their parents believe that educating a girl child is of no real value. After all, ultimately they would be married off.

On the other hand, the increasing commercialization of education has only helped to widen the gap of educational needs. While high-cost private schools can be attended by the children of urban elites, the others who are from working-class families can afford schools with the average and sub-standard curriculum.

Thus the social context of education of India indicates many challenges which should be included in the framework. The National Curriculum Framework for Schools emphasizes that schools must implement pedagogical practices. Such as critical awareness and openness to engage with different communities to share ideas and exchange curricular decisions.

#2: Learning and Knowledge

Learning should be facilitated in such a way that it attracts the attention of the students, rather than confining to the age-old traditional methods of education new approaches should be sought out. An educational ERP software could be introduced for minimizing the hassles in the teaching-learning journey.

#3: The Primacy of the Active Learners

Schools and institutions are the medium through which the students get to know about society, their culture, and the world around them. This formal process of learning is significant because it helps to inculcate knowledge, but the possibilities of understanding and relating to the world are stunted if the methodologies are antiquated and uninspiring.

Child-centered pedagogy should be implemented because it will encourage the children to voice their opinions and experiences through active participation.

Usually, when children respond to a question asked by a teacher they just repeat the answers of the teachers, the curriculum should be designed in such a way that it engages them to find their voices and nurture their curiosity. A school ERP system could be useful to design an impactful curriculum.

#4: Learners in Context

Creating a learning environment that is based on fear, extreme discipline and stress can only lead to inadequate learning. At the same time curriculum, load, and examination-related stress can lead to further problems, all of these should be addressed properly.

Along with academics, physical development should also be a priority, and for that participation in formal, informal play, yoga and other sports-related activities should be encouraged

#5: Development and learning

Keeping in mind that the period from infancy to adulthood is a period of growth and change, hence the National Curriculum Framework for School Education also takes into account the holistic development of the students.

Learning needs to be paced which would allow the students to understand the core concepts as per their understanding. An important aspect to be noted is that the educator should make sure that he or she provides a variety of challenges because passive learning is counter-productive.

#6: Curriculum and Practice

Within the classroom collaborative learning should be facilitated which will provide the opportunity for sharing multiple for interchange of multiple views and opinions. Various pedagogical tools such as school ERP with online assessment system must be implemented for enriched learning experience such as:

• Conducting interactive discussions & quiz sessions where the children can ask questions and then answer those questions depending on what they learned at school and their personal experiences.
• Intelligent guessing should be encouraged as well wherein the student can have the liberty to share his perspective on a matter.
• Active engagement should be encouraged through various classroom activities such as inquiry, exploration, debates, application & reflection

#7: Critical Pedagogy

Teacher and student engagement is important within the classroom as it helps to improve participatory learning. The role of the teacher is to create a safe and inclusive environment for the students to express themselves freely without having to worry about being judged.

It is noteworthy to mention that when teachers and students share and reflect on their individual experiences it helps to learn about varied social realities.

Curricular Area, School Stages, and Assessment

The major areas concerning curricular planning have been the same; it is important to reevaluate these areas elaborately and verify if the new alterations and additions are aligned in context with the emerging social needs.

1.Language

The National Curriculum Framework for Schools emphasizes the fact that language teaching should be multilingual wherein the students should be taught in a three-language structure.

The mother tongue should be prioritized as the first language, in Hindi-speaking states the third language ought to be modern English; in non-Hindi-speaking states, Hindi should be taught since it is the national language.

2.Mathematics

The higher goal of mathematics education is to help the child think and reason mathematically, to make assumptions based on logical reasoning. The primary goal is to:

• Help the children understand the core mathematical concepts of algebra arithmetic, geometry, and trigonometry.
• To provide them the idea as to how the mathematical concepts lead to structuration, generalization, and abstraction.
• Oftentimes mathematics is thought to be difficult and hard to understand, but with the help of varied representations, mathematical concepts can be taught easily.

3.Computers

The advancement of modern technology has urged institutes and schools alike to give attention to educating the students about the usage of computers. But it is important to note that schools lack the infrastructural resources to provide adequate knowledge regarding this.

Hence the school body or authority should make it a point to look for viable and innovative alternatives in case of lack of required funds. Connectivity and software technologies are available which are appropriate for schools in rural and urban schools.

4.Science

Science plays a significant role in educating children wherein they can differentiate between facts and fiction; the Pedagogy should be prepared in such a way that it incorporates activities, observations, and experimentation.

Instead of information-based learning, the educators should encourage an active approach towards science and how he or she connects it with the world around them.

5.Social Sciences

Subjects such as history, geography, political science, economics, sociology, and anthropology are significant as it helps to educate the child about his or her social reality. Multi-disciplinary approaches should be indicated as this collectively helps to instill a strong sense of human values such as trust, mutual respect, freedom, and respect for diversity.

6.Art Education

Arts has never been given any importance and is often confined to either “useful hobbies or leisure activities’’ and they are only used as a tool to showcase the grandiosity of the school during scholastic events. No longer should the arts be ignored, on the contrary, they should work towards nurturing the artistic capabilities within the children.

7.Health and Physical Education

Undernourishment and communicable diseases are a few of the most vital health issues that cause children to suffer in India. Keeping in mind this aspect the school authorities should make sure that vulnerable social groups and girl children are attended to and taken care of properly. This subject aims to provide an understanding of the overall importance of health and physical fitness.

8.Work Education

Work education is related to incorporating activities that would ultimately help the students inculcate necessary life skills like problem-solving, creative thinking, situation-based analysis, and effective communication.

The institutes should provide enough opportunities in terms of pedagogical strategies to help the students develop these skills from an early age.

9.Education For Peace

The world is constantly amidst violence, chaos, and dispute, despite these unpleasant realities the responsibility of the school is to ensure imparting of value-based education.

Schools must ensure that there is no indication of violence in their teachings. It is important to incorporate tolerance, justice, intercultural understanding, and civic responsibility within the educational structure.