MAYA E.V.

State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kerala.
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is an autonomous academic body functioning under the umbrella of the Department of General Education of the Government of Kerala. SCERT is concerned with the academic aspects of school education including formulation of curriculum, preparation of textbooks, teachers' handbooks and teacher training. It advises the Government on policy matters relating to school education.
SCERT, Kerala, was established in 1994. The State Institute of Education (SIE), which functioned as part of the Department of General Education, was converted to form the SCERT, to give a new thrust and direction to school education in the State. The Hon. Minister for Education is the Chairman, and Secretary General Education department as Vice Chairman of the governing Body of SCERT. Director, SCERT is the Convener of the governing body.
General
National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 is a product of ideas generated through a series of intensive deliberations by many from different walks of life, from eminent scholars to public at large. Based on NCF-2005, Kerala has also started a venture to revise the state curriculum.As a prelude to this, fourteen Focus Groups were set up to help in this process. Since curriculum is a social document, it is felt that maximum public participation is to be insured. Taking a cue from NCF, the focus groups also hope to interact with students, teachers, parents and other groups in the state and get their feedback to make this process transparent. .Accordingly, in the meeting held on 16-18 November, 2006 of the various groups, a suggestion came up that it would be good to setup a web portal which would give all information related to the curriculum revision process and invite constructive comments and suggestions from people not only Kerala but also outside the state. Thus it was agreed in principle that SCERT would start a web programe for the purpose. .To create awareness about the proposed curricular reforms among the public by giving all information related to the curriculum revision process. .To incite public comments and suggestions on the subject.To provide a platform to all to interact .\are the main objectives of the programe. .
Primary
PRIMARY EDUCATIONSCERT has proposed to give a re look at the curriculum developed earlier for classes I to VII lower primary and upper primary in the wake of National Curriculum Framework 2005. In the light of the changing aspirations and expectations of the people and State whom the SCERT serves, it is felt imperative to have the re look of the curriculum and to develop the curriculum and syllabus, textbooks and to have a better strategy for evaluation by adopting or adapting the curricular guidelines given in the NCF or even going ahead if it is possible areas the basis of the recent pedagogical advances and finds of recent researches.The task shall pass through the following phases :
Evaluating the present curriculum and its relevance
Evaluating the extent to which the competencies identified earlier hold good in the present day’s context
Chalking art the new changes and challenges with which the learner needs to cope with
Identification of new objectives, skills and competencies to be reflected in the new curriculum to be developed
Identify and spell out the level at which the competencies to be mastered at each level or class
Identifying the subjects through which these competencies can be attained
Major changes occured
Child is given importance and the curriculum is learner centered
Transaction is activity based and environment oriented
Learning is a joyful experience
Offers wide scope for teacher learner, learner - learner, and learner material interaction.
Assessment is continuous and comprehensive
Competency based teaching learning materials (Textbooks / Teacher’s handbooks) are made available
Teacher training in adopting and developing strategies for better and effective classroom transaction and evaluation
Teachers are using natural learning experience and a lost of suitable materials in the curriculum transaction
Day to day assessment, mid term evaluation and final evaluation
Introduction of grading system - 3 point grading at Lower primary level and 5 point grading at UP level
Evaluation system de-emphasizer memory
Comments and suggestions are highly appreciated on the following areas:
Integration of various subjects at primary level.
Life skills to be reflected in the competencies
Values to be integrated with the class room activities
Wider scope for usage of information and communication technology
Concept of globilization and its impact
Conservation, preservation and enrichment of our culture and heritage
Curriculum reflecting our democratic and secular heritage
Promotion to national and international understanding
The anticipated primary curriculum should be relevant to the needs and aspirations of the society, the blooming individual and the progressing nation. It should help each individual to resist all kinds of invarious and to safeguard the freedom and integrity of the nation. Your valuable suggestions are solicited to this nation building task.
The structure and functioning of SCERT
For all academic purposes SCERT functions as an autonomous way. The Director under whose guidance and advice the programmes are carried out by the academic staff heads it. The State Government has formed two bodies to guide and monitor the functioning of SCERT. The Hon. Minister chairs the General Body of SCERT for Education. The General Body plans and gives directions for the functioning of SCERT. The Governing Council, with Secretary, General Education as Chairman and Director of Public Instruction as Vice- Chairman, attends .to all academic and administrative matters of SCERT. All programmes of SCERT are carried out with the approval of the Governing Body. SCERT works in tandem with the Directorate of Public Instruction to operational the policies of the state government in the sector of school education.
The Departments functioning within SCERT are Curriculum Textbook and Evaluation, Teacher Education and Extension, Educational Technology, Special Education Research Documentation and Dissemination, Primary Education, Pre-primary Education, Non-formal Education, Population Education, Educational Psychology, Program Evaluation, Vocational Education, National Talent SEARD Examination and Scholarships and Kerala State Open School.
SCERT's programes for teachers
Every year SCER T conducts massive teacher training programmes as well as smaller programmes focusing on specialized areas or for particular subjects. The massive training programmes are mandatory for teachers as they are usually linked to curriculum and textbook revision process. The massive teacher training programmes are conducted during the vacation time immediately before new curriculum and textbooks are introduced. SCERT plans and implements the training programme UI to the district levels. The District Institutes of Education and Training take over the programmes and conduct the grassroots level training. Training programmes focusing on specific areas or subjects are of a limited scale. Usually every department / unit in SCERT conducts at least one such programme which trains 25-5( teachers. Participants are usually identified by the DIET s.
Formulation of school curriculum
Curriculum preparation is an elaborate process involving educationalists, subject experts, SCERT staff, DIET staff and teachers. Usually it is done in stage begins with the preparation of a general policy paper or approach paper. Beginning from this, approach papers on different subjects and different stages of education finalized. Curriculum frameworks for each class and each subject are then prepared. This would indicate the general nature of curriculum context and pedagogic principles to be followed. The final stage of curriculum preparation is the formulation of curriculum statements.