Thiruvananthapuram: The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education which was released by the Union Mister of Education is set to bring about a sea change in education in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. However, certain NCF recommendations won't be implemented in schools following the Kerala Government Syllabus immediately.
Overall, the State General Education Department is in concord with most of the recommendations, including the proposal for two public examinations every year for classes 10 and 12.
There is no mandate that the States must implement the national policy recommendations as such. For instance, though the Centre has been recommending making six, the minimum age for admission to school in first grade for the past two years, the State Government has decided to continue with five as the minimum age for admission to first grade in schools.
The changes in the examination pattern have been mentioned in the framework prepared as part of curriculum revision in the State. However, it would be effected only after analysing the practical aspects even if it comes as a recommendation in the final framework. Earlier, most of the recommendations in the framework were not implemented.
Ramifications of two public exams
In Kerala, the conduct of the public examinations for classes 10 and 12, valuation, and result declaration is a process involving tens of thousands of teachers, which takes about two months. The expense is also very high for this process. An examination fee is being collected from the students.
On average, about 4 lakh students appear for each of these two exams. The students can improve their performance through supplementary and improvement examinations too.
The General Education Department authorities point out that the conduct of two public examinations attended by so many students twice a year will affect even the number of working days in an academic year.
Another concern
Kerala is uneasy with the NCF recommendation that students must be given an opportunity to choose the subjects without any difference in Arts or Science streams for the Higher Secondary classes. At present, the State has appointed permanent teachers after fixing more than 40 subject combinations. If the students get an opportunity to choose the subject combinations as they please, there would be more demand for some specific subjects. This might affect the position of teachers too.
Meanwhile, the Centre’s recommendation to teach six subjects including two languages in the Higher Secondary classes, is already being practised in Kerala.