{"id":5024,"date":"2022-10-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/27-10-2022\/national-curriculum-framework-for-foundational-stage-ncf-fs\/"},"modified":"2022-10-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T00:00:00","slug":"national-curriculum-framework-for-foundational-stage-ncf-fs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/27-10-2022\/national-curriculum-framework-for-foundational-stage-ncf-fs","title":{"rendered":"National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The Union <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Ministry of Education <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">released the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS).<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>About:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for the Foundational Stage is developed <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>based on the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, and to enable its implementation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Curriculum:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It refers to the entirety of the organised experience of students in any institutional setting towards educational aims and objectives.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">There are other matters that directly affect a Curriculum and its practice or are integrally related while not being within the Curriculum. These include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The Teachers and their capacities,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">the involvement of parents and communities,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Issues of access to institutions,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Resources available,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Administrative and support structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Objectives of this NCF:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To help in positively transforming the school education system of India as envisioned in NEP 2020, through corresponding positive changes in the curriculum including pedagogy.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It aims to help change practices in education and not just ideas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Characteristics of this NCF To enable its Objectives:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">While based on the latest research in early childhood care and education, this NCF aims to be <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>understandable and relatable<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> to, and usable by all the stakeholders:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Practitioners of education, including Teachers and other educators, school leaders, and functionaries of the education system such as project officers, cluster and block resource persons, block education officers, teacher educators, examination boards, and curriculum\/syllabus\/textbook development teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To provide the interested reader a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>reasonable understanding of what education should look like<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> in our new vision for schools, and why, and what role individuals could play as parents, community members, and citizens of India, who all have a large stake in Indian education.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This NCF is designed with the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Teacher as the primary focus<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> &#8211; the reason being that the Teacher is at the heart of the practice of education.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To enable this, and to communicate ideas with greater clarity, this NCF contains <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>different levels of detail and specificity at the level of practice<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, with clear real-life illustrations in a variety of contexts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To account for the reality of the current typical institution and Teacher, while being entirely <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>in harmony with the imagination of the best-resourced institutions<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To be <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>deeply rooted in the reality of the country&#8217;s context<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, yet aspirational.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This new framework will help <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>equip young ones with cognitive &#038; linguistic competencies<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> of the 21st century.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It also lays a clear path for the goal of<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> achieving foundational literacy and numeracy<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> as articulated in NEP 2020, with age-appropriate strategies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">4 Stages:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">NEP has created a 4-stage \u20185+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Stages:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The \u20185\u2019 refers to the first five years of education from ages 3 to 8, called the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Foundational Stage<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Then ages 8-11 (<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Preparatory Stage<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">),\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">11-14 (<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Middle Stage<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">) and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">14-18 (<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Secondary Stage<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The four stages constitute school education and have been determined by the physical (including brain), social and emotional development trajectories of children, which in turn determines what is the most effective educational approach for that stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is this holistic overall transformation of the curriculum that will enable to <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>positively transform overall learning experiences<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> for students.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The transformative nature of this phase of education is expected to <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>qualitatively improve<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> the contents and outcomes of education, thereby, impacting the lives of our children towards a better future.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">All studies and research related to the early period of development of a child, unambiguously leads to the conclusion that <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>high-quality care and education<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> during this period has a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>lifetime of positive consequences<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> for all individuals and thus, the nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is based on <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>cutting-edge research<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> from across the world in multiple disciplines which includes among other things better understanding in the fields of neurosciences, brain study, and cognitive sciences.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">As articulated in NEP 2020, it uses <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>\u2018play,\u2019 at the core<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> of the conceptual, operational, and transactional approaches to curriculum organization, pedagogy, time and content organization, and the overall experience of the child.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Foundational Stage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The Foundational Stage is driven by the<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> deep and long-term implications<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> of the first eight years of a child\u2019s life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Most Critical Years: <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Research from across the world in multiple relevant disciplines shows that these years are the most critical for lifelong well-being and overall development of individuals\u2014physical, cognitive and socio-emotional.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Fastest Brain Development:<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Neuroscience research tells that over 85% of an individual\u2019s brain development occurs by the age of 6.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Early Childhood Care and Education\u2019 (ECCE)\u201d:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The \u2018Early Childhood Care and Education\u2019 (ECCE), which refers to the care and education of children from birth to eight years, is of central importance to all societies.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Children of ages 0-3 are mostly taken care of at home; institutional settings take over from age 3 onwards, so the Foundational Stage addresses ECCE for ages 3-8.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This would include pre-schools, kindergartens, nursery, Aanganwadis, etc\u2014all institutions that take care of children ages 3-6, and classes 1 and 2 across all schools.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Importance of Foundational Stage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This stage will <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>enable addressing all domains of development<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u2014physical, socio-emotional-ethical, cognitive and language as well as literacy, aesthetic and cultural aspects\u2014more effectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Developing <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>foundational literacy and numeracy<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> is critical for all future learning and the NCF-FS enables us to leverage all five years of the Foundational Stage to achieve this.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>pedagogical approach<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> recommended in the NCF-FS is <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>play-based<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It includes conversations, stories, songs and rhymes, music and movement, art and craft, indoor and outdoor games, field trips, being amid nature and playing with materials and toys.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It emphasizes the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>need for teaching and learning to be situated in the context of the child<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This includes use of the child\u2019s home language and usage of content such as local and traditional stories, rhymes, songs, materials, and games.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is also about <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>catering to different needs and levels of children<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, including children with special needs, for learning to be truly inclusive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Assessment in the Foundational Stage<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> is seen as an enabler for learning and development.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is an integral part of the everyday classroom process and largely based on systematic and careful observation of children and analysis of their work\u2014 such as craft, projects and simple worksheets.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It focuses on <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>building an enabling ecosystem<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> that\u2019s necessary to make it all happen.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This includes empowering teachers and enabling a supportive academic and administrative support system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It also emphasizes the need to ensure adequate infrastructure and learning resources in each institution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The NCF-FS speaks directly to <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>teachers<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">. It focuses on classroom practices with real-life illustrations from a variety of contexts. It is hence relatable and provides realistic pathways for teachers and others.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">There will be several challenges arising from the<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> needs of developing innovative methods and approaches<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Problems of <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>access, quality-related deficiencies<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> such as a developmentally inappropriate curriculum, the lack of qualified and trained Teachers, and less-than-optimal pedagogy. So, a lot of level up is required and at a faster speed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Low enrolment and attendance<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> in preschools compared to primary school.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">National Early Childhood Care and Education requires <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>strong investment.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The challenges of <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>achieving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">have become deeper and more widespread because of the learning loss due to school closure during the pandemic.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">NCERT should place this NCF in public domain, take it to SCERTs and to all stakeholders involved in <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>early childhood care and development<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The framework must be <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>improved with feedback<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> from implementation on the ground, and that we shall do, after a reasonable experience of its implementation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fff2cc; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Panchakosha Vikas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/VK77D72adm87lIVZEN2mFu74DzI1wuivijADlQV605KpSCby3kkKAMMWO4kJkZENk68RGNVUfcSslbcB3ShbKjWQVM4gyPplrG-r7aqhIUWYhAOlsbXmrWP7tdiVTYUiVRun7EVxgsFlT_Fh4YoI1-2ckUTEa62sN4ry_8V2G-WeFqErln1A6DNGpQ\" style=\"height:246.0; width:483.0\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Image Courtesy: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ncert.nic.in\/pdf\/NCF_for_Foundational_Stage_20_October_2022.pdf\" style=\"text-decoration-line:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\">NCERT<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The Panchakosha concept and imagination also maps into the different domains of development envisaged in ECCE.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Physical Development (Sharirik Vikas):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Age-specific balanced physical development, physical fitness, flexibility, strength, and endurance; development of senses; nutrition, hygiene, personal health, expansion of physical abilities; building body and habits keeping in mind one hundred years of healthy living in a human being.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Development of Life Energy (Pranik Vikas):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Balance and retention of energy, positive energy and enthusiasm, smooth functioning of all major systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems) by activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Emotional\/Mental Development (Manasik Vikas):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Concentration, peace, will and will power, courage, handling negative emotions, developing virtues (maulyavardhan), the will to attach and detach from work, people and situations, happiness, visual and performing arts, culture, and literature.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Intellectual Development (Bauddhik Vikas):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Observation, experimentation, analytical ability, abstract and divergent thinking, synthesis, logical reasoning, linguistic skills, imagination, creativity, power of discrimination, generalization, and abstraction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Spiritual Development (Chaitsik Vikas):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> Happiness, love and compassion, spontaneity, freedom, aesthetic sense, the journey of \u2018turning the awareness inwards.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Panchakosha is an ancient explication of the importance of the body-mind complex in human experience and understanding. This non-dichotomous approach to human development gives clear pathways and direction towards a more holistic education.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Source<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/opinion\/columns\/the-foundational-education-we-impart-makes-a-huge-difference-11666801998947.html\" style=\"text-decoration-line:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\">LM<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#ffe599; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><strong>Mains Practice Question<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>[Q] <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is of central importance to all societies. Discuss in the context of the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Context The Union Ministry of Education released the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). Key Points About:\u00a0 The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for the Foundational Stage is developed based on the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and to enable its implementation.\u00a0 Curriculum: It refers to the entirety of the organised experience [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[31,30],"class_list":["post-5024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-government-policies-interventions","tag-gs-2"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1334800IMG_20221027_113219.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}