Lok Sabha Question No. 813 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Authorisation of School Syllabus
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 813 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## AUTHORISATION OF SCHOOL  SYLLABUS

## 813       SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  on  the  criteria  followed  by  the  Government  for  authorisation  of  school syllabus at present;

(b) whether the Government is planning to establish a single regulator for both Central and State bodies for regulating, standard setting, funding, accreditation and authorisation of school education; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a): The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) sets the guidelines and direction for the development of syllabi and textbooks for all stages of School Education. As a follow up to the  NCF,  model  curriculum,  syllabi,  text-books  and  other  supplementary  material  are developed  by  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT).  The Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  follows  NCF  developed  by  the  NCERT. Further,  consequent  upon  announcement  of  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020, NCERT has undertaken the work of preparation of a new National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). The NEP 2020, inter-alia, provides that States will prepare their own curricula (which may be based on the NCFSE prepared by NCERT to the extent possible) and prepare textbooks (which may be based on the NCERT textbook materials to the extent possible), incorporating State flavour and material as needed. While doing so, it must be borne in mind that NCERT curriculum would be taken as the nationally acceptable criterion.  Also,  'Education'  being  a  subject  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and majority  of  schools  are  under  the  jurisdiction  of  State/UT  Governments,  it  is  for  the respective  State/UT  Governments  to  decide  about  the  syllabus  and  curriculum  for  their schools.

(b) & (c): NEP,  2020  envisages  a  shift  from  summative  assessment  to  regular  and formative assessment, which is competency-based, promotes learning and development, and tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity. In view of implementation of NEP 2020, a new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance Assessment,  Review,  and  Analysis  of  Knowledge  for  Holistic  Development)  has  been notified as a constituent body under NCERT. PARAKH is a standard-setting body that fulfils the  basic  objectives  of  setting  norms,  standards,  and  guidelines  for  student  assessment  and evaluation for all recognized school boards of India, guiding the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertaking the National Achievement Survey (NAS), monitoring achievement of learning outcomes in the country, and encouraging and helping school boards to shift their assessment patterns towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21 st century.  The  role  of this  Centre  is  also  to  advise  school  boards  regarding  new  assessment  patterns  and  latest researches and promoting collaborations among school boards. It is an instrument for sharing best  practices  among  school  boards,  and  for  ensuring  equivalence  of  academic  standards among learners across all school boards.

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