CBSE asks schools to make art subject must for Classes I to X

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19

To make learning exciting and interesting, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all its schools to make art subject mandatory for Classes I to X for the upcoming academic session. The board today issued guidelines on how to implement art-integrated learning in classrooms.

All schools will have to reserve a minimum of two periods per week for the subject, which includes music, dance, theatre and visual arts.

While the subject will a part of the curriculum in Classes I to X, it will be integrated with the teaching and learning process of all academic subjects up to Class XII.

The students will be evaluated on the basis of internal assessment and there will be no examination for the subject.

Classes VI-VIII to be introduced to cooking

The board has also recommended that the students of Classes VI to VIII should be introduced to culinary art. An attempt has been made by the board to enlist traditional foods of various states. The schools have been advised to introduce a few cooking classes where girls and boys will have to show equal participation.

The schools will have to prepare annual pedagogical plan under the aegis of principal in a way that art is integrated with classroom learning of various subjects.

While introducing the approach to art activities, the board condemned the replication and copying of others. It stated, “Art is about the creative expression of the learners, uniquely contributed by each one. Studying the works of famous artists of the past or present is undertaken to orient the learners to varied expressions. Replicating or copying either the master or the teachers work will check the imagination of the students and therefore, must be avoided in all cases.”

How to integrate arts with learning

For implementing art-integrated learning in classrooms, the subject teacher will select the topic that he/she wants to teach through the integration of art. The teacher can do this in collaboration with art teacher. Next, she/he will explore the topic/concept to ensure active learning promoted by meaningful integration of arts. The teacher will prepare a rubric to assess the impacts of arts-integrated learning.

Suggestive assessment criteria by the CBSE involves parameters, including understanding the art form, relevance and development of the topic to develop an original piece of art, creativity and craftsmanship and neatness. There will be five levels – Exemplary, proficient, evolving, beginning and nascent.

 Art forms 

Visual arts

Two dimensional or pictorial, Indian folk art painting, collage making and photography 

Three dimensional

Clay modelling, carving and sculpture construction 

Performing and language arts

Music (vocal and instrument), movement and dance, creative drama and puppetry and creative writing and poetry 

Culinary art

Learning about crops and spices in basics of cooking and exploring creativity in cooking 

Step 1

Selection of a topic/theme, drawing upon previous knowledge of students

Step 2

Providing creative inquiry opportunities for hands-on learning to students 

Step 3

Reflection on the new learning of subjects using an art form by the students

Step 4

Assessment of students

Target

Arts integrated learning in classroom through ice-breaking activities for classroom interaction, trans-disciplinary projects for internal assessment