The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently unveiled a significant change in its evaluation approach. Moving away from the traditional Holistic Report Card, the CBSE will now employ a Holistic Progress Card to assess students' academic performance. This shift aligns with the latest National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which places greater emphasis on children's overall development rather than mere bookish knowledge.
Dr. Vandana Shahi, the appointed training coordinator in Ludhiana, emphasized that all boards must adhere to the updated NCF guidelines. The new guidelines prioritize language learning, vocational subjects, art education, and interdisciplinary fields such as yoga and painting. The innovative module, devoid of percentage or marks, is designed to track students' progress, aiming to alleviate cut-throat competition and foster a focus on children's development.
At a recent CBSE national conference in Mumbai, Harmit Kaur Waraich, the Principal of Nankana Sahib Public School, Gill Park, disclosed further details. Classes 9 and 10 will now include English, Hindi, and Punjabi in the curriculum, a departure from the previous option of choosing between Punjabi and Hindi. For classes 11 and 12, students will have to select two languages, with English being compulsory and the choice between Punjabi, Hindi, or any other language specified in the curriculum.
The release of the new National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) on August 23, announced by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marks a transformative step towards implementing the National Education Policy. According to the NCF, students in classes 9-10 will learn three languages, including two Indian languages, while classes 11-12 will include the study of two languages, one of which must be an Indian language.
The three languages considered in this framework are categorized as follows:
1. R1: The language used as the medium of instruction (MoI) and for basic literacy acquisition, ideally the students' mother tongue or home language.
2. R2: Any other language, including English.
3. R3: Any language other than R1 and R2.
The determination of R1, R2, and R3 is subject to the decision of the state or relevant authorities, offering flexibility in language selection.
