PANAJI
As students and teachers of Class IX are learning to adapt to the National Education Policy (NEP) that entails extended instructional hours, several schools at the preparatory and middle school levels are already preparing to adapt to the new system.
The students of Class IX now have full schooling, focusing on interdisciplinary areas, vocational subjects, and practicals twice per week from 2:15 pm to 4:10 pm. The remedial classes will also be held during extended hours beyond the already slotted extra days.
Details with The Goan reveal that authorities have offered two options to the schools “ five days a week consisting of seven and half hours per day or six days a week containing six and half hours daily. All this will be based on working hours or 39 hours per week.
The schools have some flexibility to start morning classes later, although the total number of instructional hours, excluding morning assembly and prayer, will remain unchanged. Students in other grades are also experiencing changes, as class periods for students from Class V to Class X have been revised to 40 minutes each.
“The extended hour classes will cover interdisciplinary areas such as environmental studies, road safety and awareness, financial literacy, electoral literacy, general laws, scouts and guides, Junior Red Cross (JRC), National Cadet Corps (NCC), and social service,” an official said.
He explained that the first semester will focus on environmental studies while the remaining subjects will be covered in the second semester, worth two credits each.
For this curricular area, assessments will be internal, using a Holistic Progress Card, encompassing 120 instructional hours annually.
Schools have further been told that no additional teachers will be provided for the interdisciplinary area, languages (R1, R2, and R3 categories), Social Science, Mathematics, and Physical Education. However, for vocational education, additional teachers will be assigned as needed on a lecture basis.
“Our primary focus is aligning the existing syllabus with the curricular goals, competencies, and learning outcomes as per the NCF-2023. There are 10 curricular areas across two semesters. Under the new system, the total instructional hours will be 600 hours per semester, amounting to 1,200 hours per year, with five and a half hours of instructional time each day, excluding assembly and recess,” sources stated.
With this, several schools are preparing their teachers and students to adapt to the new system as NEP is likely to be introduced for Class III and Class VI in the next academic year.
“Gradual changes are taking place so that the teaching faculty and students get accustomed to the new rule as they proceed further,” said a school representative.
The Education Department and the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education have confirmed that no concerns are raised about the extended timing in their meetings with school representatives at block/ taluka levels. “In fact, they are already working for remedial teaching,” Goa Board Chairman Bhagirath Shetye told The Goan.
