JKPS Kunjwani conducts workshop for teachers on National Curriculum Framework: Foundational Stage

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: A workshop on the National Curriculum Framework: Foundational Stage (NCFFS) was conducted by the Principal JKPS Kunjwani Rajesh Rathore to familiarize the school teachers of Toddlers’ World with the updated guidelines and approaches to early childhood education as per the guidelines of NCFFS 2022.
The session focused on understanding the curriculum’s principles, the developmental needs of young learners, and pedagogical strategies for effectively delivering content in foundational classes (ages 3-8) with special emphasis over Holistic Progress Card (HPC).
The primary objective of the workshop was to acquaint teachers with the key components of the NCF for Foundational Stage; highlight the importance of a play-based, activity-oriented approach to learning; enable teachers to design and implement strategies that focus on holistic development of children; provide insights into age-appropriate learning outcomes and milestones & discuss the role of teachers in creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.
The NCF: Foundational Stage 2022 emphasizes on a child-centered and multidisciplinary approach that focuses on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development of young learners. The curriculum is organized around four key pillars, namely, encouraging learning through play, exploration, and inquiry; activity-based learning – Promoting hands-on experiences to support conceptual understanding; holistic development – Focusing on the development of multiple intelligences, including linguistic, spatial, kinesthetic, and interpersonal skills & learning outcomes – Mapping out specific competencies and milestones for different age groups to ensure children achieve essential foundational skills by age 8.
Teachers were guided to ensure the quality of learning and assess every child quite fairly. Since children learn by listening, watching, and connecting with their teachers, so teachers must exercise their pedagogic autonomy to plan and organize content, decide the sequence and methods of teaching.
They were briefed to focus on key aspects of designing HPCs, namely, taking pictures and saving them; keeping all resources, as and when, activities happen; making students save their art and craft work; taking feedback from parents regularly; displaying patience and explaining policy frameworks to parents whenever required; filling in assessment sheets based on observations and discussion with students; encouraging students to answer honestly; reflecting and taking notes after every activity; creating opportunities in the classrooms in the form of activities to observe competencies and assessing students with an open mindset, keeping the child’s age and special needs in mind.
Outcome of the Workshop were quite rewarding and fulfilling. Teachers gained a deeper understanding of the NCF’s guiding principles and their implications for classroom practices. Participants learned to incorporate play-based learning strategies, and they left with a clearer idea of how to integrate holistic development goals into their teaching, as per NCFFS 2022.
Teachers were equipped with new assessment techniques to better understand the progress of each child. The workshop fostered a sense of community among educators, providing them with a network of colleagues to share experiences and resources for future implementation.
Teachers appreciated the hands-on, practical approach of the workshop. Responding to an activity, wherein they were asked by the Resource person to jot down their areas of strength, the list of outstanding features of the teachers at Toddlers’ World included being Inquisitive, well-informed, observant, inspiring, appreciative, prompt, patient, supportive, and emotionally connected. The resource person Rajesh Rathore, Principal, JKPS Kunjwani lauded teachers for having almost all the characteristic features of an inspiring teacher, committed to groom every child for all the future needs. Many teachers highlighted that the insights gained would help in creating a more engaging and inclusive classroom environment, while also making learning more enjoyable for young children.
The workshop proved to be a significant step in helping foundational stage teachers align with the objectives of the NCFFS 2022. It provided them with practical/professional strategies to enhance early childhood education and improve learning outcomes. Continuous professional development through such workshops will be instrumental in the successful implementation of the NCFFS 2022.