The National Focus Group’s position paper on ‘Teaching of Science’ a component of National Curriculum Framework-2005 states that a major area of concern is the gradual decline of practical work and experimentation at secondary and senior secondary levels, Considering this concern, the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Framework, 2009 provides for an integrated science laboratory for the secondary schools.
Further, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed activity based teaching learning materials, the textbooks, laboratory manuals, teachers handbook and science kits that promotes enquiry, critical and analytical thinking at the secondary stage. NCERT has also been building capacity of Key Resource Persons (KRPs) in science at the secondary stage in all the states/UTs.
At the school level, Central Board of Secondary Education is currently offering various skill based courses at secondary and senior secondary levels to impart knowledge and training that strengthens the core skills of the students from Class IX onwards. The Board has also identified some Skill Knowledge Providers for effectively offering the skill based courses in the schools. The Board is also working for the industry linkages specially meant for the schools and would prepare student database for appropriate internship training /employment.
The Government has taken various initiatives to promote vocational education and training like the development of the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) and later its assimilation in the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has framed guidelines for adoption of Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) for skill development for all undergraduate and postgraduate level degree, diploma and certificate programmes under the credit system awarded by Central, State and Deemed to be Universities.
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