The National Council for Educational Research Training (NCERT) is working to publish new textbooks for classes III to XII, in tune with the objectives of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) by considering relevant inputs from the feedback received by the state-focused groups (SFGs). In 2022, when the NCFSE mandate document was finalised, as many as 25 SFGS were formed to facilitate state-oriented curriculum. Several states and Union Territories (UTS) were invited to give their suggestions for the new text- books by NCERT.
Speaking to Education Times, a source in NCERT on the condition of anonymity, says, "All the SFGS gave their inputs and relevant points from each input will be considered while compiling the new textbooks in various subjects. However, the suggestion given by Karnataka SFG was academically not feasible as it suggested the negation of evidence-based thinking as 'Western' and promoted obscure thinking about the past. Hence, it was dropped in the new textbooks.
Karnataka SFG has been side lined as it stressed discarding Indian philosophy in school books
"The textbooks for classes I and II were introduced in the 2023 session and the remaining textbooks for senior classes will be available by 2024. The Uttar Pradesh SFG has suggested Vaimanik Shastra, which are the invisible planes mentioned in Indian mythology to be included in the textbooks. Haryana SFG called for the inclusion of Maharishi
Kanada as the 'father of atomic theory' and has stressed including excerpts from Upanishads, Gita, Mahabharata, and Ramayana in school textbooks. Gujarat has stressed having combined chapters on astrology and astronomy. Madhya Pradesh aims at having chapters highlighting the essence of Hindu mythology such as Upanishads, Gita, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Suggestions from Goa pointed to the Western nature of Indian education. "Apart from the SFGS, the state curriculum framework committees were formed to give suggestions on the development of new text- books. Taking feedback from different committees and SFGs, the NCERT is adopting a pluralistic approach in the educational ecosystem too," adds the source.
Published on :- The Times of India
Date :- 14-11-2023
