Final National Curriculum Framework recommendations for Class 3-12: Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan discusses the textbooks controversy, CUET and NEET, and the status of the National Curriculum Framework for secondary education and Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) with Manash Gohain of The Times of India. The following are excerpts from the interview:
Final National Curriculum Framework recommendations for Class 3-12: The first year of CUET-UG was nearly a debacle. What lessons have been learned?
The knowledge gained from the previous year enabled us to administer the exam more effectively this year. JEE and NEET have a fixed format and are restricted to a small number of subjects. However, CUET encompasses the sciences, humanities, and business. For such an examination, it is a complex and multidimensional process to create questionnaires, determine where the majority of candidates will originate from, and determine which subjects they will study. Due to the fact that we conducted it for the first time last year, there were some hiccups. With the exception of a few locations, it has been successfully delivered this year, and the NTA team did an excellent job. Additionally, institutional participation has significantly increased.
What are your thoughts on NEET opposition?
NEET is being administered per the direction of the Supreme Court. After seven years, the NEET is now a credible entrance exam that is accepted by all states. The consequence of this year is proof. A few institutions and a few individuals are opposed to it, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Nonetheless, their opposition lacks any rationale. State students have responded to this political opposition by topping the rankings and excelling on the exam. The students have annihilated the competition.
The rationalisation of the NCERT is criticised, and you are accused of “subtle saffronization” of the curriculum.
A small group that considers itself omniscient is attempting to deceive the public. Their goal is to thwart any reform. NCERT is an independent organisation, and it was believed that the content should be reduced during the pandemic. The curriculum was trimmed beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, and two student cohorts have already covered it. Why are they now criticising? They have a purpose. Their intention is to deny modern education to Indian students. According to my comprehension, NCERT has reduced repetitive content. Similarly, in history, content that was relatively more was reduced. The NCERT routinely adds or removes certain topics on a periodic basis. To make a fuss over this is motivated and indicative of their insular thinking. The government and Prime Minister Modi are determined to decolonize the education system and make it 21st century-worthy and firmly rooted in Indian culture. This orchestrated group has been shunned by the nation. However, in a democratic society, individuals are permitted to express their opinions.
Final National Curriculum Framework recommendations for Class 3-12: Are you pleased with the education reforms of the past nine years?
After 34 years, a national education policy was finally implemented. In the past four decades, the world has undergone tremendous transformation. If there was a single sector in need of reform, it was education, and the NEP addressed this need. The construction began in 2014. India has always been at the forefront of global progress. India is now even more significant. In emerging fields such as digitization, for instance, India is a global leader. India is a leader in terms of sustainability. India’s influence on shifting geopolitics has been significantly augmented. As we play such a crucial role on the international stage, it is imperative that we elevate the education ecosystem of the country to the same level. Therefore, the NEP is a philosophical document that examines the evolving global landscape and global expectations. NEP is one of the most significant achievements of the Modi administration.
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Three essential NEP components, HECI, the digital university, and new curricula, have yet to be implemented. Will they be shipped prior to the general election?
All three are at an advanced stage. Textbooks for Classes 1 and 2 have already been printed, and when classes resume following the summer vacation, the NCF-recommended books for Classes 1 and 2 will be implemented. This month, final recommendations for the NCF will be available for Grades 3 through 12. States are aligned, and NCERT has complete control — textbook committees and oversight committees are being established, and we are attempting to have all NEP-recommended and NCF-envisioned textbooks available by 2023. Multiple levels of consultation have occurred for HECI and the digital university, and we are attempting to introduce the legislation in Parliament as soon as possible. In fact, both the new regulations for universities regarded to be universities and foreign universities and the new curriculum for higher education are steps towards HECI.
Why does the NCF not discuss Indian languages?
We have released the preliminary draught for public comment. No action is taken without extensive consultation with stakeholders. The NEP has advocated for the primacy of the Indian vernacular. We have printed Class 1 and 2 textbooks in all languages. The mediums of instruction for the CBSE are Hindi and English. Now, NCERT materials will initially be accessible in all languages via the digital platform. Now, if a Tamil boy wishes to peruse the NCERT textbook in his mother tongue, he will be able to do so, and he will also be able to select the language in which he wishes to take his exams. Language is a unifier rather than a separator.
