Education Ministry officials have stated that schools are likely to introduce new NCERT textbooks, revised in accordance with the new National Education Policy (NEP), from the 2024-25 academic session. These textbooks will be developed in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

“The new textbooks are likely to be introduced from the 2024-25 academic session. It is a tall task but we are aiming for that. The textbooks will be revised as per the new NCF, work on which is already going on. Developing textbooks is a laborious task,” a senior MoE official told PTO.

An official has announced that all NCERT textbooks, developed as per the revised NCF, will be available in digital format. In response to the appetite for digital learning caused by COVID-19, these textbooks will be simultaneously available for download. The official also emphasised the need for textbooks to not remain static, and an institutional framework will be developed to ensure that textbooks are regularly updated.

As per the NEP 2020, the curriculum pedagogical structure is “5+3+3+4”, which outlines a new school education system. In this system, children will spend five years in the foundational stage, followed by three years each in the preparatory and middle stages, and finally four years in the secondary stage.

In 2020, the Centre appointed K Kasturirangan, former Chairman of ISRO, as head of a 12-member steering committee to develop a new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and revise school textbooks. Four NCFs were being prepared for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE), School Education (NCFSE), Teacher Education (NCFTE), and Adult Education (NCFAE).

The process began with all states and Union Territories preparing their State Curriculum Frameworks (SCFs) through district level consultations, mobile app surveys, and the development of position papers by State Focus Groups in 25 areas or themes identified as per the NEP 2020, including ECCE, Teacher Education, and Adult Education.

The Ministry of Education launched the NCF for the foundational stage (FS) last year and according to the curriculum framework, the learning-teaching material (LTM) has been developed and collected by the NCERT. 

Four NCFs are being prepared, including NCF for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE), NCF for School Education (NCFSE), NCF for Teacher Education (NCFTE), and NCF for Adult Education (NCFAE), with inputs provided by states, UTs, and autonomous organisations working under the Ministry of Education. 

Draft NCFs will be translated into 22 languages and shared with states and UTs for their comments, with final approval from the Ministry of Education before dissemination and implementation.

The Ministry of Education has launched “Jaadui Pitara” for learning at the foundational stage, which includes toys, puzzles, puppetry, posters, flashcards, worksheets, and attractive storybooks.

Also Read: NEP 2020: Ministry of education calls for ideas, suggestions on NCF