The overarching objective of the course is to develop a vision of education. This will be achieved through the critical analysis of the new National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), 2023. Specific objectives are to understand the.

• Nature and concept of education;
• Relationships between human nature, society and education;
• Social purposes and aims of education in a democratic society;
• Relationships between aims of education and the curriculum.

The outcomes include participants' comprehension of the nature and concept of education, the interconnections between human nature, society and education, as well as the objectives of education and its correlation with the curriculum. Armed with this knowledge, participants will engage in introspection regarding their work plans and activities within the field, ultimately contributing to societal advancement. Additionally, they will gain the ability to scrutinize policy documents from philosophical and critical perspectives.

Participants enrolled in the 6-days long face-to-face course are expected to dedicate a total of 65 hours toward their learning expenence This includes 42 hours of in-class sessions spanning seven (7) hours each day, supplemented by an additional 12 hours (2 hours per day) for reading and preparation. Additionally the participants are required to allocate three (3) hours toward pre-course tasks, along with eight (8) hours for course completion assignments.

To be able to engage in educational practice in a self-aware manner, one must deliberate upon several crucial questions. What is education? What ought to be the aims of education? On what criteria these aims should be determined? Why human beings must be taught? How do children learn? What should be the basis for deciding what should or should not be taught in schools? How are students taught and why in that manner? What is worth teaching? What is meant by saying that all children ought to be given equal educational opportunity? and so on.

Some foundational principles are required to examine the concepts and theories that form the fundamental basis for constructing answers to such questions as well as for all educational practices. Without a grasp of the theoretical underpinnings of education, any work or activity undertaken in the name of education can only be a random act picked up on hunches. Hence, it is essential for individuals actively engaged in educational practice at any level to understand the fundamental principles of education.

In this workshop, our goal is to delve into these aspects by integrating them with the recently introduced National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. We aim to examine how the framework incorporates recommendations concerning education, society, aims of education knowledge, school subjects, and teaching methods, and how these are applied in practice. The course, thus, will examine what principles and assumptions NCFSE 2023 is based on.

Digantar Shiksha Evam Khelkud Samiti, a non-profit founded in 1978, is dedicated to educational innovation and social upliftment. Key objectives include running schools, advancing educational thought and practices, conducting research, and promoting cultural and social development. Currently, it operates two non-fee-paying schools in Jaipur, Rajasthan, serving marginalized communities.

Digantar's approach integrates theory and practice through The Academic Resource Unit (TARU) and Digantar Publications. TARU offers capacity building programs for educators, emphasizing the importance of grounding practice in educational principles. The organization advocates for quality education, aiming to cultivate autonomous, rational and caring democratic citizens. Its schools and various initiatives, including teacher training, research, and curriculum development, reflect this commitment.