NCERT To Release Class 3 And 6 Textbooks With New Syllabus In April And May

Last month, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) notified all the schools to use new textbooks for classes 3 and 6 from the academic session 2024-25, in place of the textbooks published till the year 2023. The National Council of Education Research (NCERT) announced that the books for classes 3 and 6 under the new syllabus will be available at bookshops in April and May respectively.

Notably, class 3 marks the start of the preparatory, and class 6 marks the beginning of the middle stage which requires revamping, to align with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE).

The CBSE also informed about the bridge course for class 6 and concise guidelines for class 3 developed by NCERT to facilitate a seamless transition for students to pedagogical practices according to the NCF-SE 2023.

In a notice sent to CBSE, KVS, and NVS, the NCERT asked to take required actions including changes in school timetables, and information to school heads, teachers, and parents in line with the national curriculum. It advised regulatory authorities to formulate a strategy to engage students of Grades 3 and 6 in playful and activity-based learning at the start of the new academic year to ensure a holistic environment for creativity as well as physical education of children.

Mentioning that the syllabus for other classes will remain the same and the 33 lakh textbooks for classes 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, and 12 have been printed and delivered to the bookshops so far.

National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE)

On October 20, 2022, the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) was released. This is India’s first-ever integrated curriculum framework for kids aged three to eight. It is a direct result of the “curricular and pedagogical” structure (5+3+3+4) for school education that NEP 2020 recommends and incorporates early childhood care and education for all children aged 3 to 8. NCERT established the NCF for Foundational Stage (NCFFS) after a protracted consultation process involving numerous institutions and organizations, as well as States and UTs down to the local level.