National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023
Salient Features:
• 5+3+3+4 Curricular Structure: Adopts the NEP 2020's structure, dividing education into four stages: Foundational (ages 3-8), Preparatory (8-11), Middle (11-14), and Secondary (14-18) to align with children's developmental needs.
• Holistic Development Focus: Emphasizes cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth, moving beyond rote memorization to foster critical thinking, creativity, and life skills.
• Competency-Based Learning: Shifts from content-heavy curricula to competency-based education, promoting deeper understanding and application of knowledge.
• Flexible and Multidisciplinary Curriculum: Encourages integration across subjects, allowing students to explore arts, sciences, and vocational studies without rigid boundaries.
• Multilingualism and Indian Languages: Promotes the use of Indian languages as mediums of instruction up to Grade 12 and mandates the study of at least two languages, one of which must be an Indian language.
• Semester System in Senior Secondary: Introduces a semester system for Classes 11 and 12 to reduce content load and allow for more in-depth study.
• Biannual Board Examinations: Recommends conducting board exams twice a year, providing students with multiple opportunities to perform well.
• Integration of Vocational Education: Integrates vocational education into all schools, aiming to equip students with practical skills and prepare them for various career paths.
• Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy: Prioritizes achieving universal foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3, recognizing them as essential for future learning.
• Assessment Reforms: Moves towards formative, competency-based assessments that evaluate higher-order skills like analysis and critical thinking, rather than rote memorization.
• Teacher Empowerment: Recognizes teachers as central to educational reform, emphasizing continuous professional development and support for adopting learner-centric methodologies.
• Digital Integration: Encourages the use of technology in education, promoting digital literacy and integrating tools like AI and augmented reality to enhance learning experiences.
• Inclusion of Life Skills and Value Education: Incorporates life skills, ethics, and value education into the curriculum to prepare students for real-world challenges and responsible citizenship.
• Inclusive and Equitable Education: Aims to provide equal learning opportunities for all students, catering to diverse learning needs and eliminating discrimination in educational institutions.
• Integration of Indian Knowledge Systems: Seeks to integrate indigenous knowledge, languages, and values into the curriculum, providing education that is rooted in Indian culture with a global perspective.
