Curricular initiiatives in india after ncf 2005

1. By,
Garima Tandon
B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Banaras Hindu University
Curricular Initiatives in Science Curriculum after
NCF 2005
Various initiatives have been taken to improve the science curriculum. Some major
initiatives after independence includes Physical Science Study Committee (1956),
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (1958), Chemical Education Material Study or
CHEMStudy (Early 1960s), Nuffield Science Teaching Project, Science curriculum
related recommendations in different NCFs. NCF 2005 is the latest curriculum
framework that tells about a basic standard pattern about science curriculum at different
levels. The major emphasis of focus paper on Science Education NCF 2005 is on Nature
of Science, 6 types of Validities in Science, Researches in Science Education and
Curriculum at the national level. After NCF 2005 many other initiatives have also been
taken in this field some of among them made NCF 2005 as a base for improving
curriculum. Some of them are described below:
(1). IISER-
IISER stands for Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research. IISERs are a
group of premier science education and research institutes in India. These institutions
have been declared by Act of Parliament as institutions of national importance, and are
intended to be the IITs of basic sciences. The institutes were created by the Government
of India, through the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), under The
National Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2010 (an amendment of the
National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007), which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on
30 April 2012.

2. Different IISERs have been established across India-
1. IISER Kolkata in West Bengal
2. IISER Pune in Maharashtra
3. IISER Mohali in Punjab
4. IISER Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh
5. IISER Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala
6. IISER Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh
7. IISER Berhampur in Odisha
Key Features-
 Highly competent and motivated faculty with passion for teaching and pursuing
research in frontier areas of science
 Integrated undergraduate teaching and cutting-edge research
 Exposure and access to world-class research facilities right from the start of the program
 Research internships and year-long research projects leading to MS thesis with
opportunities for interdisciplinary research.
Different Programmes under IISER-
 Five-year dual degree program for science students
 Classroom learning integrated with research, providing ample scope for
interdisciplinary activities
 Curriculum with a focus on both breadth and depth in sciences, engineering sciences
and economics
 Opportunity to pursue impactful research
 Fully residential campuses with well-equipped hostels
 Access to on-campus medical, sports and other recreational facilities

3. Programmes offered in-
1. Biological Sciences
2. Chemical Sciences
3. Data Science
4. Earth & Climate Sciences/Earth & Environmental Sciences
5. Economic Sciences#
6. Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering, Data Science & Engineering, Electrical
Engineering & Computer Science)#
7. Geological Sciences
8. Mathematical Sciences
9. Physical Sciences
(2). NISER-
NISER stands for National Institute of Science Education and Research. It is an
autonomous research institution in Odisha, India. Unlike the IISERs, which is governed
by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, government of India, NISER
operates under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). It has been
established with the aim of embedding scientific rigor within larger pedagogic practices
in our country. The Institute is affiliated with Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI),
Mumbai, a deemed research university that oversees academic programs at Institutions
that are part of the DAE structure. A primary objective of the Institute is to train and
nurture human resources in the Sciences for the knowledge economies of the future.
The founding of this Institute is rooted in the understanding that the contexts we inhabit
are dynamic and in flux, while we have not begun to think in terms of solutions to most
of these problems we realize that they exist and that we need to quickly participate in
the process of finding out some answers. NISER recognizes that modern scientific
research is carried out in interstices amongst fuzzy domains and blurred boundaries.
NISER offers the following programmes in the Schools of Biology, Chemistry,
Mathematics and Physics.

4.  An integrated 5-year M.Sc. programme in the core and emerging branches of
Basic Sciences to students after their 10+2 Higher Secondary schooling. This in
turn will be integrated with Ph.D. programme on the one hand and employment
in various R & D organizations and industry in the country on the other.
 Integrated M.Sc. + Ph.D. programme after B.Sc. from other Universities.
 Ph.D. programme after M.Sc. from other Universities.
All the academic degrees (5-year Integrated M.Sc. and Ph.D.) for NISER are awarded
by HBNI.
(3). Eklavaya Project-
Project Eklavya is an initiative of Indus Action that assists families in gaining access to
high-quality private schools through India’s Right to Education Act, which requires
25% of seats in high-quality private schools be filled by disadvantaged children. The
state pays private school tuition, book and uniform fees for successful program
applicants. However, few families are utilizing this provision and 90% of eligible
families are unaware of the act. Project Eklavya aims to raise awareness through rallies,
door-to-door efforts, street plays, media dissemination, promotional videos and
interactions with parents at Anganwadi centres. In addition to increasing awareness,
Project Eklavya assists families in determining eligibility and navigating the application
process. The project operates a toll-free hotline that parents may call for more
information and families are directed to help desks at Gender Resource Centres. Subject
matter and pedagogy employed to teach these are the two important cornerstones which
determine good quality education. This however has remained a challenge in Indian
education. Eklavya has tried to address both these along with reforms in examination
and teacher training from the mid1980s to 2002. With the coming in of National
Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005) (NCF (2005)), much stress has been put on the
child and the local in the construction of knowledge. This has led to renewed efforts on
text-books both at NCERT and SCERT level. Eklavya has partnered with NCERT and
some SCERTs in such efforts. The group is organised on the basis of three subject areas
Science, Social Science and Mathematics.

5. (4). BSCS-
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) is an educational centre that develops
curricular materials, provides educational support, and conducts research and
evaluation in the fields of science and technology. It was formed in 1958, and became
an independent non-profit organization in 1973, headquartered in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. In 2018, BSCS changed its name to "BSCS Science Learning".
BSCS believed that the authoritarian tone of biology teaching at the time compromised
the investigative nature of science and suffocated the inquisitive spirit of the student.
By making students active participants in the scientific process and investigations,
BSCS felt students would garner a more complete understanding of science as
discipline.
To advance the teaching of science, BSCS developed a lesson structure they call the
"BSCS 5E Instructional Model", standing for the different sections of a lesson. It is
important to note that it is NOT considered that these 5 sections—that this lesson—
would be done in a single 50-60 minute class period. These 5 E's include: Engage,
Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.