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Author
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Sharoz Ahmad Khan, Sumit Kumar Pandey
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Year
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2026
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Publisher
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IRJMS
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Abstract
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This study examines the advantages and significance of integrating media literacy education into school curricula, highlighting its increasing role in education. In an age when misinformation spreads through social media, news outlets, and advertising, equipping students with the skills to recognize, analyze, and ethically engage with media has become essential. Despite growing academic and societal interest in media literacy, there remains a notable lack of rigorous research on its effective inclusion in secondary school syllabi. To address this gap, we reviewed existing literature and analyzed the curricula for 11th and 12th grades from India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Using narrative analysis, we examined how media literacy education is integrated within these curricula, focusing on its objectives, pedagogical approaches, and assessment strategies.
Our key findings emphasize aims such as enhancing media literacy and weaving it throughout the curriculum. Additionally, our review revealed significant inconsistencies across Indian curricula, including sporadic references to media concepts without clear progression or depth, and identified promising areas for development, such as the addition of dedicated modules on media literacy. These enhancements could greatly improve student learning by fostering deeper engagement with real-world issues, sharpening critical thinking through evidence-based reasoning, and promoting responsible digital citizenship—equipping adolescents for participation in a hyper-connected world. The study also highlights opportunities for educators and policymakers to incorporate media literacy components and prioritize media literacy education.