National Curriculum Framework

Q Why is it in News ?

A The Centre has started the process to revise school textbooks by appointing former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan as the head of a 12-member steering committee responsible for developing a new National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

Q What is National Curriculum Framework (NCF) ?

A 

• The new NCF is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The committee will be headed by K Kasturirangan, who had also led the NEP 2020 drafting committee.
• The national curriculum framework serves as a guideline for syllabus, textbooks, teaching and learning practices in the country.
• India is currently following its fourth national curriculum framework that was published by the NCERT in 2005.

Q What was the last NCF?

A 

• The last such framework was developed in 2005.
• It is meant to be a guiding document for the development of textbooks, syllabi and teaching practices in schools across the country.

Q Why revamp NCF?

A 

• The subsequent revision of textbooks by the National Council of Educational Research and Training will draw from the new NCF.
• In fact, the steering committee will develop four such frameworks, one each to guide the curriculum of school education, teacher education, early childhood education, and adult education.