Draft curriculum proposes 5.5-day week for schools
Recommends longer periods of 50 minutes from Class 9 onwards
2 min read
As first reported by The Indian Express on Thursday, the draft NCF has also suggested board exams be held twice a year, a semester system for Class 12, and the freedom for students to pursue a mix of science and humanities to reduce the rigid boundaries separating arts, commerce and science in classes 11 and 12 across school boards. The draft National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has suggested that students attend school for five and a half days in a week, with Saturdays being half-days of study — a total instruction time of 29 hours per week.
It has also recommended that class periods last 40 minutes for preparatory and middle school stages, and 50 minutes from Class 9 onwards.
The last NCF released in 2005 gave schools much leeway in timetabling the school day and the academic year. It only insisted that the school day be at least six hours and each class period last at least 45 minutes.
By contrast, the new draft NCF provides a specific framework for the school day and the academic year. The document, now open for comments from the public, suggests the academic year comprise 180 school days or 34 weeks across all stages of education.
Asked why the new document is more specific in its suggestions than the one in 2005, a member of the govt-appointed panel to prepare the new NCF told The Indian Express,”One of the criticisms of the old NCF is that it was too broad and general which made it difficult for states and teachers to adopt. We wanted the new NCF to work as a ready reckoner for teachers so that they adopt examples and practice directly from the document as opposed to trying to interpret board principles.”
The NCF is a document that forms the basis of changes that will also be brought about in school textbooks and will influence the pattern of teaching, and assessment in classrooms.
As first reported by The Indian Express on Thursday, the draft NCF has also suggested board exams be held twice a year, a semester system for Class 12, and the freedom for students to pursue a mix of science and humanities to reduce the rigid boundaries separating arts, commerce and science in classes 11 and 12 across school boards.
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