In a bid to convert dull and dreary classrooms learning into a joyful one and promote active and experiential learning and to inculcate an appreciation of the vast diversity of the Indian art forms, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has decided to integrate art with the teaching and learning process of all academic subjects from classes I to XII.
The CBSE has also asked all the schools situated across the country to implement the same for all the classes. The new method of teaching will begin from the upcoming academic session 2019-20.
As per the circular issued by the CBSE, Arts education will be taught as a mandatory subject for classes 1 to 12 and facilities for the same may be provided in every school.
“Every school shall compulsorily reserve a minimum of two periods per week, per class, for Art education. All the four main streams covered by the term arts, such as music, dance, visual arts and theatre, should be included. Emphasis should be given to learning rather than teaching, and the approach should be participatory, interactive, and experiential rather than instructive,†said the statement issued by CBSE.
The idea behind the new policy is derived from the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) position paper which focuses on the Arts, Music, Dance and Theatre.
“The curriculum is to present knowledge as ‘packaged’ usually in textbooks, along with associated rituals of examinations to assess, where knowledge acquisition and marks becomes a way of judging competence in the subject area,†said a CBSE official.
With making the classroom learning joyful the art integrated learning will also help to promote our rich art and cultural heritage, said the official.
“The Board held discussions with several stakeholders, including schools, principals, teachers, NCERT, art professionals and accordingly it emerged that integration of Art with education will lead to betterment of learning in the class rooms,†said the official.
Art Integration is not a replacement for Art education. Integration happens only after students have been directly taught the Arts. Without this background knowledge, neither the students nor the subject teachers will be able to integrate art in education. For example, the notes in Hindustani Classical Music can be aligned with the teaching of Fractions in Mathematics. However, without the knowledge of music notes, it will be impossible for the students to comprehend the link between the two, added the official.
As per the CBSE, this form of education is important as it will a child to apply art-based enquiry, investigation, exploration, critical thinking and creativity for a deeper understanding of the concepts/topics. All disciplines being pursued by students at all stages require creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Secondly, it will also enhance experiential learning, by enabling the student to derive meaning and understanding, directly from the learning experience.
Besides, this it will help to make a positive impact on the development of students certain life skills such as communication skills, reflection and enquiry, nurturing higher confidence levels and self- esteem, appreciation for aesthetics and creativity, said the official.
“Under this pattern, a student will learn in a different way such as learning the meaning and lines of a difficult poem by breaking each line into a dialogue spoken by Amitabh Bachchan or James Bond or set to music based on Bollywood songs. This will not only make the children enjoy studying, it will develop the skills of students,†said the CBSE.
Besides, the extra-curricular, the students will also be introduced to culinary art where they will learn about nutritious food, crops and spices grown in India, about how oil is extracted from various seeds, about good agricultural practices, pesticides use.
