Exam (elaborations) Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage

It is with a great sense of pride and satisfaction that I submit this National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF), on behalf of the National Steering Committee for National Curriculum Frameworks to Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Government of India. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a transformative initiative to usher India to prepare itself to meet the challenging demands of a 21st century knowledge society. The NCF is one of the key components of NEP 2020, that enables and energizes this transformation, informed by the aims, principles, and approach of NEP 2020. Its objective is to realise the highest quality education for all our children, consistent with realising an equitable, inclusive, and plural society as envisaged by our Constitution. This is the first ever integrated Curriculum Framework for children between ages 3-8 in India. It is a direct outcome of the 5+3+3+4 ‘curricular and pedagogical’ structure that NEP 2020 has come out with for School Education. The Foundational Stage envisions an integrated approach to Early Childhood Care and Education; for children between ages 3-8. The transformative nature of this phase of education is expected to qualitatively improve the contents and outcomes of education, thereby, impacting the lives of our children towards a better future. All studies and research related to the early period of development of a child, unambiguously leads to the conclusion that high-quality care and education during this period has a lifetime of positive consequences for all individuals and thus, the nation. This NCF is based on cutting-edge research from across the world in multiple disciplines which includes among other things better understanding in the fields of neurosciences, brain study, and cognitive sciences. Further, the accumulated insights from the practice of Early Childhood Care and Education, and the wisdom and knowledge from diverse Indian traditions are also important considerations. As articulated in NEP 2020, it uses ‘play,’ at the core of the conceptual, operational, and transactional approaches to curriculum organization, pedagogy, time and content organization, and the overall experience of the child. It also lays a clear path for the goal of achieving foundational literacy and numeracy as articulated in NEP 2020, with age-appropriate strategies. To ensure that this NCF is responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people, and the nation, and is also informed by the very best experience and knowledge, we have conducted widespread consultations across the country. This process has benefited from the engagement of over 10 lakh interested citizens including students and parents, and over 1.3 lakh teachers and educationists from across the country, over 1550 district level consultations from 32 States and Union Territories, and 35 groups of institutions. These consultations are in addition to over 500 papers on 25 specifically relevant themes written by groups constituted by the States and Union Territories which all together had over 4000 experts, and 25 papers on these themes developed by expert groups with over 175 members, constituted by the National Council for Educational Research and Training. 6 National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage While this NCF is informed by this collective knowledge and wisdom, the real challenge came when we had to analyse these inputs and develop a cogent, pragmatic, and effective synthesis that will enable changes in practices on the ground. This, in turn, called for the NCF to be presented in a language, structure, and with a variety of illustrations, such that practitioners, including most importantly Teachers, should be able to relate it to their current realities. I emphasise this aspect of the work of this Committee, primarily, to highlight the several challenges arising from the needs of developing innovative methods and approaches. This curriculum framework will be an integral part of the of the overall National Curriculum Framework for School Education, which is under development, and will address the remaining three stages of the 5+3+3+4 structure, covering education for children up to the age of 18. So, while this NCF is complete in itself, its connections and implications to the other Stages, will be settled in the overall National Curriculum Framework for School Education. Further, this Foundational Stage framework will also guide the preparation of the Teachers for this Stage of educa