The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is a key component of the National Education Policy 2020. Its objective is to provide high-quality education for all children, consistent with realizing an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by the Indian Constitution.

The NCF has four sections:

  1. National Curriculum Framework for School Education
  2. National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education
  3. National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education
  4. National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education

National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for the Foundational Stage

The NCF for the Foundational Stage is the first ever integrated curriculum framework for children between ages 3-8 in India. It outlines the importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), its rootedness in Indian traditions, contemporary research that underlines its importance to life, and the centrality of play in these years.

Rationale for Early Childhood Care and Education

The period of early childhood lays the foundation for life-long learning and development and is a key determinant of the quality of adult life. Research shows that high-quality ECCE is perhaps the best investment that any country can make for its future.

NCF on Language of Instruction

The NCF for foundational stage education has recommended that the mother tongue should be the primary medium of instruction for children till eight years of age, in both public and private schools. English can be one of the second languages taught at the foundational level, but it doesn’t specify which grade.

Key Recent Initiatives on NEP Priorities

  1. NIPUN Bharat: Launched in 2021, NIPUN (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat is the National Mission for attaining the goals of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) in the country as directed by NEP 2020.
  2. Vidya Pravesh: Vidya Pravesh is a program developed by NCERT for students entering Grade 1. It will be transacted over three months, with four hours a day devoted to familiarizing children with the school environment and to provide experiences for maintaining well-being.
  3. Balvatika: The Balvatika program is envisaged as a one-year program before Grade 1, which is meant to prepare children with cognitive and linguistic competencies that are prerequisites for learning to read, write, and develop number sense through a play-based approach.

Listed points about the National Education Policy

  • The National Education Policy (NEP) in India is a framework to guide the development of education in India.
  • NEP covers education at all stages, including early childhood care and education, school education, higher education, teacher education, and vocational education.
  • The first National Policy on Education was formulated in 1968, and the latest is NEP 2020.
  • NEP India 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century in India.
  • The policy aims to address the developmental imperatives of the country and create an education system that is second to none by 2040.
  • NEP 2020 proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including regulation and governance, to create a new system that aligns with 21st-century education goals while building upon India’s traditions and value systems.

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