National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005)

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005) is one of four National Curriculum Frameworks published in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005 by the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT in India. The document provides the framework for making syllabii, textbooks and teaching practices within the school education programmes inIndia.

The NCF 2005^[2] document draws its policy basis from earlier government reports on education as Learning Without Burden and National Policy of Education 1986-1992  and focus group discussion. After wide ranging deliberations 21 National Focus Group Position Papers have been developed under the agies of NCF-2005. The state of art position papers provided inputs for formulation of NCF-2005.

The document and its offshoot textbooks have come under different forms of reviews in the press. Its draft document came under the criticism from the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). In February 2008 the director Krishna Kumar in an interview also discussed the challenges  that are faced by the document.

The approach and recommendations of NCF-2005 are for the entire educational system. A number of its recommendations, for example, focus on rural schools. The syllabus and textbooks based on it are being used by all the CBSE schools, but NCF-based material is also being used in many State schools.  NCF 2005 has been translated into 22 languages and has influenced the syllabii in 17 States. The NCERT gave a grant of Rs.10 lakh to each State to promote NCF in the language of the State and to compare its current syllabus with the syllabus proposed, so that a plan for future reforms could be made. Several States have taken up this challenge. This exercise is being carried out with the involvement of State Councils for Educational Research and Training [SCERT] and District Institutes of Education and Training [DIET].

Main Features of the NCF 2005

The document is divided into 5 areas:

·         Perspective

·         Learning and Knowledge

·         Curriculum Areas, School Stages and Assessment

·         School and Classroom Environment

·         Systemic Reforms

·         Mother tongue as a medium of instructions.

·         free development

·         availability of resources

Kerala Curriculum Framework(2007)

                The existing syllabus in kerala is based on kerala Curriculum Framework 2007. Activity oriented learning is emphasizes in the syllabus and the teaching process is student centric. Teacher’s role is more like that of a facilitator than that of a guide or an instructor. Even though there were serious concerns about the existing syllabus. It was later well admitted and appreciated by experts all over India. It has certainly brought about a positive change in class rooms and the back benchers who were no responding and getting involved. There may be  a need for revision of syllabus as periodic revision of syllabus is inevitable. But this is that it should be carried out after elaborate preparation and deliberations. Prior to the formation of a framework, discussion with all teacher organizations needed. The main contention against the present curriculum reform is that it is being done without extensive discussion on the framework and textbook revision is progressing and nearing completion.

                    Discussions at various levels were conducted before the finalization of KCF 2007. This is not done in the care of present curriculum revision. KCF 2007 was introduced with the strong support of NCF 2005 which was a paradigm shift from the existing system. Curriculum reforms should be multi faceted and comprehensive