Implementation Of New Textbooks For Grades 4 5 7 8th
Implementation Of New Textbooks For Grades 4 5 7 8th
Implementation Of New Textbooks For Class 4 5 7 8th
F. No17-04/2024-25/DCS&D Dated: 10th March, 2025
Subject: Implementation of New Textbooks for Grades 4, 5, 7 and 8 developed in consonance with NCF-SE 2023
Dear Sir,
As a follow-up of NEP 2020, till now NCERT has brought out textbooks for Grade 1,2, 3 and 6. I hope these textbooks are being implemented in all the schools affiliated to CBSE including KVS and NVS. I also hope that follow-up is being done by CBSE on the aspect of time-management in schools providing adequate time to subject areas such as Arts, Physical Education and Well-being and Vocational Education along with other subjects.
As per our discussion held during the meetings with CBSE, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will be releasing new competency-based textbooks for Grades 4,5,7 and 8 in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 for the upcoming academic session 2025-26. With the release of these textbooks, the teaching-learning material for the three stages of school education Foundational, Preparatory and Middle will be complete.
Along with this TLM, NCERT is also providing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), a Bridge Programme (BP) for Grade 5 and Grade 8. This initiative is aimed at facilitating a seamless transition for students to new curricular and pedagogical perspectives of all the subject areas including Arts, Physical Education and Well-being (PE&&WB), Vocational Education (VE), and ‘The World Around Us'(TWAU), for which textbooks are being developed aligned with NCF-SE 2023.
The timeline at which these teaching-learning material will be available are given below:
Printed copies of Grade 4 and 7 Textbooks will be available first followed by soft copy to discourage the piracy. Before introducing these textbooks, schools may be advised to take one week time to recapitulate the earlier grade textbook of the respective subject areas, that will help children to reinforce their learning with competency-based approach.
Before introducing Grade 5, 6 and 8 textbooks it must be ensured that every school offer bridge programmes from April 1st, 2025, for smooth transition of students from old curriculum to new curriculum. We advise schools to chalk out a strategy for engaging students entering Grades 5, 6 and 8 in 2025-26 in playful and activity-based learning to ensure a holistic environment that encompasses arts, physical education, and well-being, skill education, and fresh insights into language, mathematics, science, environmental education, and social sciences.
This approach is not only anticipated to ease the students’ adaptation to the new curriculum but also aims to spread awareness of the updated educational perspectives among parents and the community. Consequently, the revision of school timetables will be required. Therefore, it is crucial to inform School Heads, Teachers, and Parents about the suggested time allocations in Preparatory and Middle Stages per the NCF-SE 2023, and to encourage schools to adapt their schedules in accordance with the local needs and the specific context in which they operate.
NCERT is also planning to conduct Capacity Building Programme for the Key Resource Persons of CBSE, KVS and NVS on the new textbooks and bridge programmes from 25th March 2025 onwards through online mode. Detailed programme schedule will be shared shortly.
We request that CBSE proactively disseminate NCERT’s communication to all concerned stakeholders including heads, teachers, and parents of all schools affiliated to CBSE, so that only the newly developed teaching-learning material may be procured for concerned grades.
CBSE’s prompt action on this matter in collaboration with KVS and NVS would be highly appreciated. The joint efforts of NCERT, CBSE, KVS, and NVS, under the guidance of the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoS&L), the National Syllabus and Teaching-learning Material Committee (NSTC), and the National Curriculum Framework Oversight Committee (NOC), are integral to fulfil the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for school education.
(D.P. Saklani)
Shri Rahul Singh, Chairperson, CBSE
Copy to: PS to Hon’ble Shiksha Mantri
PS to Secretary, DOSE&L
Ms. Prachi Pandey, JS, DOSE&L
Commissioner, KVS and Commissioner, NVS