PANJIM: Goa is on track to complete the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) at the school level by the 2027-28 academic year, Secretary (Education) Prasad Lolayekar announced on Tuesday.
Lolayekar stated that Goa will be among the first states to introduce the NEP for Class IX starting from the 2024-25 academic year. The policy will then be extended to Class III and Class VI from the 2025-26 academic year. Once academic restructuring is finalized by 2027-28, the Directorate of Education will proceed with the physical restructuring of school premises according to the 5+3+3+4 model. The National Curriculum Framework and National Credit Framework, as outlined by the NCERT, will guide this process, with detailed information available on the NCERT website.
Centralized Paper Setting and School-wise Evaluation for Class IX
For Class IX, students will study three languages, each carrying four credits, along with Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, each worth five credits. New interdisciplinary subjects, such as Environmental Education, Junior Red Cross, Scouting and Guiding, NCC, Financial Literacy, and Electoral Awareness, along with skill-based vocational education, will also be introduced. Exams will be centrally set by the Goa Board, while evaluation will be conducted at the school level, adhering to a two-semester system.
Structure of School Education Under NEP-2020
The NEP-2020 outlines four stages of school education:
- Foundational Stage: Nursery to Class II
- Preparatory Stage: Class III to Class V
- Middle Stage: Class VI to Class VIII
- Secondary Stage: Class IX to Class XII
Key Officials Present at the Briefing
The press briefing was attended by several key education officials, including Director of Education Shailesh Zingde, Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Chairman Bhagirath Shetye, State Project Director of GSS Dr. Shambhu Ghadi, Director of SCERT Meghana Shetgaonkar, Chairman of the Steering Committee for NEP Implementation in School Education Kanta Patnekar, and Chairman of the State Curriculum Framework Committee for the Secondary Stage Jose Rebello.
