Rework on Syllabus as per NEP by ‘Mandate Group’

Vinod Kakumanu
Jan. 7, 2022, 1:06 p.m.

The National Steering Committee, headed by K Kasturirangan, former ISRO Chief, has decided to set up a six-member ‘mandate group’, which will be responsible to issue guidelines regarding introduction of various elements of the new education policy in the school textbooks. These elements will range from modern technological skills to ancient knowledge systems.

The proposed six-member ‘mandate group’ will comprise of three members from the steering committee, and three external domain experts. A senior Union government official said the mandate group will act as a sub-group of the National Steering Committee and will lay down guidelines including the processes and timelines for the NCF (National Curriculum Framework) and SCFs (State Curriculum Frameworks)

The official further explained that the mandate group’s task will be to provide clarity to the states on the ways to implement the NEP’s larger ideas. Preparing the curriculum in accordance with the 5+3+2+2 school system, marking a shift from the prevailing 10+2 system, will be handled by the mandate group.

It was further stated by the official that the NEP stresses on 21st century skills, no hard separation between arts and sciences, and vocational and academic streams; but the prevailing system is quite the contrary. He said that guidelines will be needed to make schools function like universities, encouraging multidisciplinary studies, for which the SCFs and NCF will take the recommendations of the mandate group.