Latest news with #SCERT
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra: SCERT issues revised timetable to introduce third language in primary schools
Mumbai: A day after the Maharashtra government issued a revised government resolution (GR) making a third language compulsory in state-run schools, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on Thursday released a new daily academic timetable. The revised schedule adjusts teaching hours across subjects to accommodate the third language from Class 1 onwards. As per the circular, the changes are aimed at aligning the total annual instructional hours with the National Curriculum Framework's (NCF's) requirement of 990 academic hours. However, to allot teaching hours for the third language, the SCERT has reduced teaching time for subjects like art education, physical training, and work experience, now renamed as 'work education'. As per the NCF, the third language is also supposed to be taught only from Class 5. The revised timetable has drawn criticism from educationists and school principals, who said that the changes could compromise students' overall learning experience, especially in areas meant to foster creativity and physical development. According to the revised plan, the number of teaching hours for core subjects like the first and second languages and mathematics remains largely in line with NCF recommendations, which are in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020. However, art education, which the NCF suggests should be taught for 144 hours annually, has now been allotted just 81.67 hours under the new SCERT schedule. The SCERT has also, for the first time, provided a sample timetable to help schools plan their academic day. While the sample timetable itself is not mandatory, the subject-wise allocation of teaching hours must be followed. Unlike the NCF's recommendation of 45- to 50-minute periods, the Maharashtra government has opted for shorter 35-minute sessions. However, two consecutive periods may be combined to provide extended time for certain subjects. The SCERT circular clarified that the revised daily schedule, as per the GR dated June 17, will apply to state board schools of all language mediums for class 1 this academic year and then class 2 from next year. Mahendra Ganpule, former spokesperson of the State Principals Association, questioned the logic behind introducing a third language from Class 1. 'Without any clear rationale, the government has introduced a third language from the very beginning of schooling. And now, they've issued a timetable that cuts into the time meant for other important subjects. The NCF doesn't even mandate instructional hours for the third language at the foundational level. Then why is the government insisting on pushing it?' he said. The state's June 17 GR had earlier drawn flak for making Hindi the default third language unless at least 20 students in a class opt for an alternative. Education experts and opposition leaders said it was in effect a backdoor entry of the state's earlier proposal to make Hindi a compulsory language in state board schools.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Time for art & sports cut as teaching hrs revised to bring in third language
Mumbai: To accommodate the inclusion of a third language in the Class I timetable from this academic year, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has revised and reallocated instructional hours across subjects. This is the first such exercise undertaken in the state since 2017. While the number of hours allotted to the first and second languages as well as mathematics are almost similar to the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the state has reduced the time allocated for art and physical education and work experience to make room for the third language. The weekly and annual subject-wise instructional hours will now be binding on all schools. The reallocation of instructional hours comes two days after Maharashtra issued a govt resolution (GR) making a three-language policy mandatory for the state board's Marathi and English medium schools from Class I to V. The GR said Hindi will not be a mandatory third language; students can choose any other Indian language, but a teacher will be available only if there are at least 20 students in class, else the language has to be taught online. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O aparelho que os idosos descobriram para aliviar dores nos nervos e formigamento. A arte do herbalismo Undo The duration of each session has also been reduced to 35 minutes in the new guidelines, as opposed to 45 mins followed earlier in the state. But two sessions can be clubbed together to give more time to students for the respective subjects, mentioned the circular issued by SCERT on Thursday. The NCF, on the other hand, recommends 45-60 minutes per session. The council, for the first time, has also recommended a sample timetable that can be followed by primary schools. While the timetable can be modified at school level as per their requirement, the weekly and annual instructional hours cannot be reduced by them, mentioned the circular. According to the guidelines, the first and second language have been allocated 306 and 180 hours annually and the third language will be given a little over 100 hours. The national framework does not recommend a third language at Class I level, and therefore, has no provision. Mahendra Ganpule, former head, Maharashtra School Principals' Association, said they are reducing time given to overall development of students in arts, physical education and work experience to accommodate a third language, which is not even recommended in the NCF. In the time in which two languages are to be taught, they will now be teaching three, he added. SCERT will also soon come out with an academic calendar for Class I, for which a new syllabus has been introduced. "The calendar will provide a chapter-wise teaching schedule for the class to help teachers distribute syllabus evenly across the year and avoid last-minute rushes," said director, SCERT, Rahul Rekhawar. He added the timetable has made provision for additional enrichment periods (AEP), a new initiative, to allow teachers to provide extra guidance to students.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
SCERT releases revised timetable structure for Class 1 to accomodate third language
The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on Thursday released a revised timetable structure for Class 1 to accommodate a third language. This came a day after the Maharashtra government issued a revised Government Resolution (GR) stating that Hindi will be taught as the third language in Marathi and English medium schools across the state for Classes 1 to 5. With the new timetable, the stipulated minutes to be spent on each subject have been reduced, creating a major gap from what is recommended under National Curriculum Framework (NCF). The document released by SCERT, adds a third language to Classes 1 and 2 formally, as until now, the only official document in this regard, which is State Curriculum Framework-Foundation Stage (FS), recommended only two languages for these classes, as per NCF. 'The changes will be applicable to Class 1 from academic year 2025-26. Whereas for Class 2, these changes will be applied after the introduction of the new syllabus and curriculum as per the SCF,' states the document released by SCERT Director Rahul Rekhawar. Even as the NCF-recommended timetable structure suggests 50 to 60 minutes spent on each subject, the state's revised timetable structure reduced it to 35 minutes. 'This was bound to happen as the NCF-FS includes only seven subjects, whereas the state has added one more subject by introducing a third language from Class 1. To accommodate the additional subject, time spent on all other subjects has been reduced,' said Mahendra Ganpule, former head of the Maharashtra School Principals Association. The note released by SCERT also provides a sample timetable. It states 'Schools can design their own timetable, based on their timings. But they will have to stick to the stipulated time mandate per subject.' According to schools, this announcement has come very late as schools have already started and structuring the timetable is finalised way before that. 'Now that we are almost a week into the new academic year, a new timetable guideline has been issued. Schools have already started with the timetable structure issued in the past in the SCF-FS, which does not include a third language for Class 1,' said a senior teacher. Schools have also complained that the government has included a new subject into the timetable structure for Class 1, without clarity on teachers to teach the third language, alternatives to Hindi, and curriculum guidelines.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Jeevitotsavam to nurture talents of higher secondary students: CM
A programme Jeevitotsavam has been drawn up to nurture the creative talents and personality of higher secondary students who are in their adolescence, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. At a press conference on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said activities that were devised as practical and transformative challenges would be held over 21 days. At the end of the programme, a State integration carnival named 'Jeevitotsavam 2025' will be organised. On the problem of substance abuse, Mr. Vijayan said like students and teachers, parents too should be made aware of the ill-effects of drugs and other substances. Modules that included parents too in training programmes had been prepared. Detailed guidelines had been given to schools on how to remain alert to the problem of substance abuse and the functioning of 'janajagratha samithis.' The problem of drugs had been included in school textbooks as part of the revised curriculum. Along with this, adolescent education too had been given a thrust. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had brought out specific textbooks to encourage healthy lifestyle among children. Teachers were being given training on how to recognise drug abuse and violence among children. The trainings would continue to equip teachers to provide preliminary counselling. Anti-narcotic clubs were functioning in schools with the support of the Excise department to organise awareness programmes against drug use and monitor students. In select schools, 'jagratha' brigades with 30 to 50 students had been formed to coordinate various activities. Peer groups were also being roped in to address drug-related problems. Teachers had been given strict instructions to report instances of substance abuse correctly. Complaints received should be examined under the leadership of the head teacher once a week and steps taken. They had also been familiarised with physical activity such as zumba to ensure students' physical health, the Chief Minister said.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Aimed at sensitising teachers about child safety, SCERT relaunches POCSO training for all Delhi schools
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has relaunched its online training programme on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, making it available to every teacher in government and private schools across Delhi. Hosted on the Centre's DIKSHA-LEAD (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) portal, the 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment), Act, 2019' course has been made open for enrolment and completion till June 30. 'This training is an important initiative aimed at sensitising all educators and stakeholders about child safety and legal responsibilities under the POCSO Act,' stated an SCERT circular issued this week. The course is designed to cover every critical aspect of the law, including the latest amendments, obligations for mandatory reporting, and detailed guidance on recognising and responding to potential offences, it added. The program was first introduced last October and was made open for students and faculty members of SCERT and District Institute of Education & Training (DIET), among others. Teachers who have not yet taken or completed the course earlier 'are provided another opportunity to enroll, complete, and obtain certification,' stated the circular. The department has issued detailed step-by-step instructions for enrolment. To participate, educators should first install or update the DIKSHA mobile app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store or visit the DIKSHA website on their computer. After selecting their preferred language, users must choose the role 'Teacher/Student,' set the board to 'State – Delhi,' and specify their medium and class. Once the profile setup is complete, teachers can access the course directly via a provided link or by scanning the QR code. They then click 'Join Course' and log in using an existing email or mobile-number account, Google credentials, or by registering anew with OTP verification. Successful participants are to receive a course completion certificate upon scoring at least 60%. 'Course completion certificates will be generated 15 days after the date of completing the course,' ensuring sufficient time for verification. Certificates will reflect the name appearing on the teacher's DIKSHA profile at the time of completion, the circular noted. Educators are encouraged to finish the training 'without disturbing their school/Institute routine work' and at their own pace, from any location. SCERT has called on all Heads of Schools and district coordinators to promote broad participation.
