The Ministry of Education recently unveiled the mandate document, a significant step under the auspices of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. This document marks an important transition toward a holistic education system focusing on comprehensive child development, skill enhancement, cultural embeddedness, and fostering learning in the mother tongue. A crucial component of this transformation is the decolonization of the Indian education system.
National Curriculum Framework (NCF)
The NCF lies at the heart of the NEP 2020 implementation, serving as the pathway to ensure exceptional teaching and learning practices across the nation. The National Steering Committee (NSC) guides the development of the NCF, with support from the Mandate Group and the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT). The framework encompasses school education, early childhood care and education, teacher education, and adult education.
The government has framed the NEP as the guiding philosophy, with the NCF serving as the pathway and the newly released mandate document as the constitution, directing future transformations. The deadline set for revision of syllabi based on the new NCF is February 28th, 2023.
Mandate Document Highlights
The mandate document summarizes strategies for creating a cohesive NCF, integrating both vertical and horizontal aspects of the NEP 2020 for a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary education system. It empowers teachers by linking school curriculum with teacher education and promoting continuous professional development within a conducive environment. The document also emphasizes opportunities for lifelong learning and focuses on addressing the massive learning losses caused by the pandemic over the last two years.
Decolonization of the Indian Education System
The term “decolonization” refers to the process of freeing the local education system from the influence and dominance of the colonial educational model. Although India gained independence in 1947, the education system still reflects the influence of the western world. Decolonizing Indian education involves reviving and incorporating indigenous knowledge, practices, and pedagogical methods.
National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT)
Established in 1961, NCERT is an autonomous body under the Government of India. It aims to reform school education through research, training, policy formulation, and curriculum development. This New Delhi-based organization is playing a crucial role in supporting the changes stipulated by the NEP 2020 and the mandate document.