Students of classes III to V will no longer study environment studies (EVS) as an independent subject.
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), prepared by a national steering committee and released by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday, replaced EVS with activity-based The World Around Us (TWAU).
At present, students start studying EVS as an interdisciplinary area integrating science, social science and environmental education from Class III. The syllabus of EVS includes themes such as food, water, shelter, family, friends, plants and animals. The children are also taught mathematics, two languages, art and physical education.
According to the NCF, the children at the preparatory stage (classes III to V) would pursue two languages, mathematics, art education, physical education and TWAU.
“Work and pre-vocational skills are included as part of TWAU curriculum. TWAU, in particular, should rely more on activities and experiences, rather than presented as inert facts in textbooks,” said the NCF.
An NCERT official said that under TWAU, the schools may take children to nearby areas for exposure to society and the environment.
In the middle stage (classes VI-VIII), children will study three languages, mathematics, science and social science apart from art education and physical education. They will be exposed to vocational education too.
Besides engaging in all the curriculum curricular areas of the middle stage, students of classes IX and X will study EVS as an interdisciplinary area.
At present, students of classes IX and X study two language subjects. Under the new system, they will have to pursue an additional language.