NCF 2023: No exam for classes up to 2, introduction of semester for class 12 recommended – Times of India

The National Curriculum Framework for School Education has been released by the NCERT. In the NCF various recommendations have been made for almost each grade student. The pre-draft proposes various recommendations, such as modifying the class 10 and 12 board exams, transitioning from a 10+2 structure to a 5+3+3+4 structure, and emphasizing developmental perspectives to suggest changes in curriculum and teaching methods at different stages, including foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary levels.
Grades up to 2
The draft National Curriculum Framework (NCF), inspired by the new National Education Policy (NEP), proposes that explicit tests and exams are not suitable assessment tools for children in classes up to 2. It recommends introducing written tests only from class 3 onwards to avoid imposing additional burden on the child. The NCF emphasizes that assessment methods should be designed in a way that does not add to the child’s workload.
For the foundational stage, the framework suggests two appropriate assessment methods: observation of the child and analysis of artefacts produced as part of their learning experience.
According to the draft, explicit tests and exams are not suitable for evaluating students in the Foundational stage, which encompasses preschool to class 2.
The assessment process should be inclusive of diverse learning styles and methods of expression. Given that children learn and demonstrate their learning differently, teachers should have the flexibility to design various forms of assessment for a single learning outcome and apply each assessment appropriately.
Documentation and recording of children’s progress should be carried out systematically through the collection of evidence. The assessment process should not impose any additional burden on children, and assessment tools and procedures should naturally complement their learning experiences.
Download National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023
The NEP 2020 recommends that schooling should be imagined in four stages in a new 5+3+3+4 design covering ages 3-18. “The curricular and pedagogical structure and the curricular framework for school education will therefore be guided by a 5+3+3+4 design, consisting of the Foundational Stage (in two parts, that is, 3 years of Anganwadi/pre-school + 2 years in primary school in Grades 1-2; both together covering ages 3-8), Preparatory Stage (Grades 3-5, covering ages 8-11), Middle Stage (Grades 6-8, covering ages 11-14), and Secondary Stage (Grades 9-12 in two phases, i.e., 9 and 10 in the first and 11 and 12 in the second, covering ages 14-18).”
Grades 3-5
According to the draft, in the preparatory stage, it is recommended to introduce written tests as part of the assessment process. To encourage learning, a range of assessment methods should be utilized, including portfolios which provide a holistic view of a student’s progress through their work and can also offer parents a reliable overview of their child’s learning. Additionally, peer and self-assessments may be implemented to assist students in monitoring their own learning trajectory.
Upon completion of the preparatory stage, a comprehensive summative assessment should be conducted to evaluate the student’s preparedness for the middle stage, which introduces several new curricular areas.
On Thursday, the education ministry unveiled a “pre-draft” of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education and solicited input from key stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and scholars. The draft was formulated by a committee led by K Kasturirangan, a former head of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Grades 6-8
According to the draft, during the middle stage of schooling, the curriculum should emphasize developing conceptual comprehension and advanced abilities. The document suggests that evaluation methods such as projects, debates, presentations, experiments, investigations, role plays, journals, and portfolios should be employed to assess student learning. Additionally, periodic summative assessments containing multiple-choice and constructed-response questions, including short and long answer questions, should be administered to assist students in synthesizing their knowledge at logical junctures such as year-end, term-end, and unit-end.
The Education Ministry officials have stated that the textbooks aligned with the new NCF will be rolled out from the upcoming year. The Education Ministry has formulated four NCFs that align with the 5+3+3+4 ‘curricular and pedagogical’ structure recommended for school education by NEP 2020.
In October 2022, the ministry launched the NCF for foundational stage (NCF-FS) targeting children aged between 3-8 years. As a continuation of this policy, the Education Ministry is currently preparing the next NCF for school education.
Grades 9 and 10
To complete Grade 10, students will complete two Essential Courses from each of the eight Curricular Areas available i.e., a total of 16 Essential Courses across two years of Grade 9 and 10.
Grades 9 and 10 will follow an annual structure (a semester structure in these classes is possible to construct but is unnecessary since all students will do all the essential courses).
Students must clear 8 Board examinations at end of Grade 10 – these assess each of the two Essential Courses in each Curricular Area learnt during Grades 9 and 10.
Grades 11-12
The same set of eight Curricular Areas will continue to be on offer, but choice-based courses will be designed based on the Disciplines within the Curricular Areas to ensure deeper and more rigorous engagement. Choice-based courses and their content will be designed on the basis of the specific nature of disciplines.
This phase of the Secondary Stage would be divided into semesters and each choice-based course would be for a semester. Students must complete 16 choice-based courses to complete Grade 12.
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has undergone four revisions in the past – in 1975, 1988, 2000, and 2005. The proposed revision, if implemented, would be the fifth iteration of the framework.