This post will discuss the high level features of the National Education Policy 2020, NCERT’s aims for ECCE, and The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage 2022.

When India announced the National Education Policy in July 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), replacing the old ‘National Policy of Education 1986’, what was path breaking were the following four points:- 

  1. Recognising the significance of early years: The recognition that the 3 to 6 age group needed to be brought within the scope of school curriculum since it was globally recognized that this period is crucial to the child’s development.
  1. New Pedagogical & Curricular Structure: The existing 10+2 system was replaced by 15 years, broken down as :-
  • A foundational period of 3 years of pre school and 2 years in Class 1 & 2.
  • A preparatory period of 3 years (Class 3 to 5)
  • Middle school of 3 years (Class 6 to 8)
  • Secondary school lasting 4 years (Class 9 to 12)
  1. New standards for teachers: A new framework for teacher education, recruitment, deployment, service conditions, and empowerment of teachers was also announced for release in 2021.
  1. Increase in public investment: Increasing the public investment in the education sector to reach 6% of the GDP at the earliest.

As the drill down into the nitty gritty proceeded, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) released their high level aims for ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) and models to achieve these aims. 

The aims for ECCE so that the child attains optimal outcomes in different domains are:-

  • Physical & Motor Development
  • Cognitive Development
  • Socio-Emotional Ethical Development
  • Cultural/Artistic Development
  • Development of Communication, Language, Early Literacy and Numeracy

Additionally, while defining the different models for ECCE, the NCERT listed stand alone Preschools as one of the acceptable models before the child completed the last 2 years of the Foundational Period in Class 1 & 2.

The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage 2022 was then released in October 2022. This framework explains the Panchakosha Vikas or 5 fold development of the child:-

  1. Physical Development (Sharirik Vikas)
  2. Development of Life Energy (Pranik Vikas)
  3. Emotional/Mental Development (Manasik Vikas)
  4. Intellectual Development (Bauddhik Vikas)
  5. Spiritual Development (Chaitsik Vikas)

It is an extensive document that is being used by the various stakeholders like the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NCERT, etc., to prepare the actual curriculum. This curriculum must be followed by pre schools for children between the age 3 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years of Grade 1 and 2 to achieve Panchakosha Vikas, with clearly defined 

  • Skills/Concepts the child should master
  • The Pedagogical process to be followed to achieve this
  • Learning Outcomes

We expect this Preschool/Foundational Stage Curriculum will break down approaches, practices and processes for each year – from 3 to 8 years of age.

You can expect a comprehensive review of this curriculum done by Olivia Montessori whenever it is released by the Government to the public.

Feel free to email your queries/questions to admin@oliviamontessori.com

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