PANAJI
The Goa government introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for Class IX this academic year, with plans to extend its implementation to the ‘preparatory’ and ‘middle’ stages in the coming academic year.
It was decided to implement the latter two stages from the next academic year so that NEP covers all standards from Foundational Level 1 to XII (5+3+3+4 system) by 2027-28. With this, there are no changes in the textbooks for 2024-25, as NCERT textbooks are being followed by the schools in Goa.
Given this development, some unaided Goa Board-affiliated schools – which used their prescribed books alongside those from the SCERT/NCERT -- have reverted to the SCERT guidelines. The authorities have made it mandatory to follow the curriculum by SCERT/NCERT, or else the violation would be taken seriously.
“As schools defined under Section 2(n) of RTE Act 2009 have to follow the Curriculum and evaluation procedures prescribed by SCERT/NCERT as the case may be. If a school is found to follow/prescribe curriculum (syllabus/textbooks) and evaluation procedures in elementary classes other than the other prescribed by SCERT/NCERT, prima facie it shall be treated as violation of RTE Act, 2009,” reads a circular issued by Director SCERT Meghana Shetgaonkar --- that brought in a change in unaided schools.
However, after some unaided schools approached the SCERT for relief, the authorities have permitted respective managements to include their own prescribed books to ensure local issues that might otherwise be overlooked are taught to the students.
A principal of an English primary school explained that solely implementing the SCERT/NCERT curriculum would provide only partial knowledge about some major chapters and local-centric issues to students at the preparatory level.
“There are no changes in languages and Mathematics but SCERT curriculum omits subjects like Social Science. We cannot deprive our children of learning about our freedom fighters, liberation struggles, the pre-liberation era, and significant figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji. We want our children to know more about their country, its festivals, Goa, and other important places. Therefore, we requested and were permitted to include these subjects,” the principal said, speaking to The Goan.
Another principal highlighted that SCERT combines English I and English II. However, due to differing methodologies, some unaided schools have opted to teach these as separate subjects with the department’s permission. “It will be useful for students to understand grammar, comprehension, etc as a separate subject,” the principal noted.
These unaided schools, which will be teaching Maths and EVS bilingually for the first time just as government and aided schools do, will incorporate their prescribed books.
“There were no bilingual books until last academic year, but this year when these books were allocated, it came as a surprise to many parents. Nevertheless, we are content that the department has allowed us to incorporate our prescribed books…focus will also be to ensure more activity-based learning than theory as per the NEP,” another school head revealed.
