Maharashtra Introduces Curricular Framework For Early Education – News18

The Maharashtra state government has introduced a novel curriculum framework for the foundational level of education that emphasises the use of a child’s mother tongue as the primary medium of teaching. This foundational level covers three years of pre-primary education and includes classes 1 and 2, catering to children aged three to eight years.

The revamped curriculum places a significant emphasis on interactive activities and discovery-based learning, aiming to ensure that children can read and write effectively by the time they reach class 3. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised regarding the use of multiple languages and the need for a more independent curriculum structure. Additionally, the framework places a strong emphasis on student nutrition and health.

This new framework aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS). Referred to as the State Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (SCF-FS), this framework underscores the use of a child’s mother tongue or native language as the primary medium of instruction in early education.

“The curriculum for the initial five years of education will be based on interactive activities, games, and exploration. By the time students enter class 3, they are expected to possess the ability to read and write clearly,” an official from the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. The official was part of a team that was appointed by the state government to decide the curriculum for the foundation stage, reports add.

To carry out this programme, a special committee has been reportedly formed to focus on the fundamental level, which spans three years of Anganwadi (kindergarten) and classes 1 and 2. The foundational stage should ideally use the child’s native language as the medium of education, according to the SCF-FS model. It promotes the use of the mother tongue as a bridge to introduce students to other languages, such as English, while simultaneously utilising it in teaching and learning activities.

Furthermore, the draft, which accounted for about 342 pages, addressed the student’s health and nutrition. The state administration has come under fire for failing to create a more autonomous curricular framework that would have taken into account the demands and particularities of the SCF-FS, even though it was a revolutionary programme, reports added. Before final approval, the proposed draft has been made public in order to solicit comments from stakeholders.

In addition to teaching fundamental language and numeracy skills, the SCF-FS places a strong emphasis on children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development and establishes guidelines for it.