new delhi keeping examrelated stress primarily in view the draft national curriculum framework ncf report 2005 has come out with some novel suggestions including making class ten board tests optional delinking schoolleaving board examinations from entrance tests and a single nodal agency to conduct entrance examinationsthe report prepared by a committee of educationists headed by former ugc chairman yashpal also suggested that under no circumstances should board or other kinds of examinations be conducted at the level of class five eight or eleven at block district or state levelindeed even the class x examination can be made optional only for those who wish to continue to class xi and others may receive a certificate from the school the national council of education research and training ncert which drew up the draft after a ninemonth exercise saidthere was a need to delink school leaving board examinations from competitive entrance examinations these examinations could be made less stressful if students had to take fewer of them said the draftthe stress on preboard examination must be reversed and strategies to enable children to opt for different levels of attainment should be encouraged to overcome the present system of generalised classification into pass and fail categories it said observing that learning has become a source of burden on children the draft proposed four guiding principles for curriculum developmentconnecting knowledge to life outside school ensuring that learning shifts away from having to mug up textbooks enriching the curriculum so that it goes beyond textbooks and making examinations more flexiblethe draft report would be presented for consideration at the central advisory board of education cabe at its meeting scheduled for june seven a single nodal agency could coordinate the design and conduct the examinations several times a year at centres located all over the country and monitor and ensure timely conduct and release of students achievementsthe scores obtained by students through such a national testing service could be utilised by all institutions for the purpose of admitting students the draft saidobserving that examination reforms was an important component to reduce psychological pressure particularly on children in class x and xii the draft recommended changing the typology of questions so that reasoning and creative abilities replace rote learning as the basis of evaluationthe ncf has recommended significant changes in school curriculum with a view to making education more relevant to the present day and future needs and in order to alleviate the stress children are coping with todayit recommended softening of subject boundaries so that children could get a taste of integrated knowledgein addition plurality of textbooks and other material which could incorporate local knowledge and traditional skills and a stimulating school environment responding to the childs home and community environment were also suggestedin language a renewed attempt to implement the three language formula was suggested along with an emphasis on recognition of childrens mother tongues including tribal languages as the best medium of instructionncf also draws attention to four other curricular areas work arts and