Introduction
Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) has recently developed the Integrated Curriculum to address the current needs of the learner. The English language is a global lingua franca and is an appropriate international language for Nepal to be connected with the global community. It is not only the language of international communication but also a language of higher education, mass media, information and communication technology (ICT), business, tourism, science and medicine. In the context of Nepal, English is necessary for various purposes.
To be specific, our learners need English to participate in classroom interactions; to study course materials; to read things for pleasure and general information; to gain access to the world body of knowledge; to read and enjoy a wide range of literary texts; to participate in international meetings, seminars and conferences; to communicate with foreigners in general; to enhance their career development; to appreciate movies, plays, talks, radio and television programmes, and many more. English is taught as a compulsory subject from grade one to the bachelor’s level in Nepal.
Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) has recently developed the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2019 to address the changed socio-political condition of the country and the current needs of the learner. Following the structure of NCF, this curriculum has been designed for basic level (Grades 1-3) education in Nepal, with a view to catering to the immediate needs of children learning English and building a basic foundation for their further studies in and through English.
Moreover, Integrated Curriculum aims at developing a comprehensive communicative competence on the part of the learners. It also includes the language functions which the students need for real-life communication and further studies.
The major focus of this curriculum is on language skills viz., listening, speaking, reading and writing. By the end of Grade 3, children will be able to use English effectively in a limited set of situations. This Integrated Curriculum is based on the principle that children learn English better when they get ample exposure to spoken and written English and sufficient opportunity to use it in a stress-free environment. Therefore, it expects a child-friendly learning facilitation process from the teachers. Furthermore, various soft skills appropriate for this level have also been included in the curriculum.
Competencies for Integrated Curriculum
By the end of grade three, students will have developed the competencies to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of simple spoken language
2. respond in simple English with intelligible pronunciation
3. use English for communication inside and outside the classroom
4. read simple texts for understanding and pleasure
5. express opinions, ideas and feelings using simple English
6. work with peers to learn a language together.
