Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The much-awaited Circular on NEP 2020 implementation for Class IX starting in the 2024–2025 academic year was released by the Education department on Friday. It provides clarification on the five and a half daily instructional hours.
Students in Class IX who chose to study French, Portuguese, German, or Arabic in Class VIII as part of the ‘R3’ Curricular Areas were also given a relaxation by the department.
“The minimum five and a half hours of instruction that all institutions must maintain will not include assembly, recess, or remedial instruction. The Education Director Shailesh Zingde issued a circular that states, “The timings may be decided by the concerned schools in consultation with all stakeholders.”
On Thursday, Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar made it clear that schools are not required to use the “model timetable” that the department of education provides for implementing the NEP in Class IX. In opposition to the State Council of Educational Research and Training’s (SCERT) proposal of 39 working hours per week, which contrasts with the National Curriculum Framework’s recommendation of 29 hours, the Goa Secondary School Teachers Association (GSSTA) had earlier called on education officials.
The curriculum areas that explain the language options have also been defined by the NEP, which will be implemented under the State Curriculum Framework.
English will remain Regional Language R1, while Marathi, Konkani, or Hindi will be available as an additional language option in R2. If R2 is not selected, R3 will be “any language native to India currently offered by Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, including Konkani/Marathi/Hindi.”
Additionally, it said that students who chose to take foreign languages like French, Portuguese, German, and Arabic in Class VIII would receive a relaxation in R3. This relaxation would apply to any language offered by the Goa Board.
Math and Computational Thinking, Science, Social Science, Multidisciplinary Fields, Vocational Education, Physical Education and Well-Being, and Art Education would be the remaining subjects. The textbooks for the first through fourth curriculum areas won’t change. For the remainder, there are no textbooks; however, curriculum and learning objectives will be given.
“All subject learning outcomes will be available on the SCERT website. The same must be downloaded by schools,” it continued.
