New Delhi: Textbooks should be dispensed with to teach the youngest schoolgoers – those aged 3 to 6 – proposes the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage that was launched a few days ago. It also suggested including board games and tales from ancient Indian fables like 'Panchatantra' in the teaching process of students aged 6 to 8.
The 360-page-long framework contains proposals that would introduce wholesome changes in the nursery and primary levels. There shouldn’t be any text book based learning in the first three years. The trainers should try to change the false perceptions from the past. For instance, false beliefs like snake and owls are symbols of evil and women should do all the household chores should be changed.
Instead, stories, songs and games should be utilised to communicate better with the students.
Simple text books could be introduced in the last two years (6 – 8 years) of the foundational stage. These could also be used as work books in which the students practise whatever they have learned.
The framework proposes to make cooking and travelling parts of the learning process. Besides, the children should be imparted knowledge in folk songs, stories, festivals and custom.
Moreover, the framework suggests that the learning process shouldn’t be differentiated as arts, science, curricular and extra-curricular.
Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan had launched the framework that was prepared by an expert committee led by former ISRO head K Kasturirangan. The framework would be introduced immediately in 49 Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country.