According to the National Curriculum Framework(NCF) - 2005, which of the following is not an objective of science teaching at the upper-primary stage?

According to the National Curriculum Framework(NCF) - 2005, which of the following is not an objective of science teaching at the upper-primary stage? Correct Answer <span style="">Using systematic experimentation as a tool to discover/verify theoretical principles.</span>

National Curriculum Framework, 2005, is a complete document to rejuvenate Indian schools as well as Teacher Education.

• “Science education should enable the learner to know the facts and principles of science and its applications, consistent with the stage of cognitive development”, guides that objectives, curriculum, methods, assessments, etc. should be different for different levels.

Key Points

Objectives of Teaching Science at the upper-primary stage are:-  

• Learners have the opportunity to explore various elements of science and start making sense of science in daily experiences and thus science education transit from environmental studies to elements of science and technology at the upper primary stage.
• The integrated approach to teaching is followed by emphasizing teaching science as a single subject.
• Learners recognize science concepts through hands-on activities and experiments, even then not necessary to strictly follow the inductive approach of inquiry.
• The problems that learners sense as meaningful and significant (arrived through discussions in the classrooms in the presence of a teacher, communication with elders, from newspapers, etc.) must be tested and experimented with apart from simple experiments and hands-on activities.
• The practice of pass and fail and no-detention policy is to be avoided but steps may be implemented to organize periodic assessments of learners through unit tests, term tests, etc.
• Role play, skits, and cooperative learning strategies should be adopted to ensure larger participation and sharing of learning outcomes.
• Scientific concepts are learned better if learners explore them through activities and experiments. 
• Engaging learners in learning principles of Science through familiar experiences, working hands-on to design simple technological units and modules, and continuing to learn more about the environment and health through various activities 
• The in-service teachers should prepare question papers that assess learners' problem-solving skills, data analysis skills, application of learned knowledge in various situations, solving numerical problems, etc.

Hence, it is concluded that Using systematic experimentation as a tool to discover/verify theoretical principles is not the objective of science teaching at the upper-primary stage. 

Additional Information

Objectives of Teaching Science at Secondary Level -

• It is suggested that at the secondary stage, learners should be engaged in learning science as a composite discipline.
• Provide the opportunity to engage in activities and analysis on issues surrounding the environment and health.
• Systematic experimentation is suggested as a tool to discover/ verify theoretical principles and work on locally significant projects involving science and technology.