New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks are set for another major revision, which will be effected once the New Education Policy (NEP) is finalised and there is a National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in place, ThePrint has learnt.
The last revision had taken place in 2017 and was only implemented from the current academic session. The school textbooks will now see another revision in the next two years, according to sources in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
The 2017 revision had come after nearly 15 years. The exercise was then based on public suggestions invited by the NCERT from teachers, parents, members of education groups and the common public. On the basis of the public suggestions and feedback, changes were made in the old syllabus.
Among some of the additions in the 2017 revision was the inclusion of the Modi government’s policies such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and demonetisation. A chapter on Rajput king Maharana Pratap was introduced in the history textbook of Class 7. Additionally, more information on Indian knowledge systems has been added in the textbooks. The books meant for classes 6 to 10 have information on ancient Indian philosophy, yoga and Ayurveda.
“The previous revision had to be done because the education policy was getting delayed and the syllabus had not been revised for a long time,” said a senior government official. “There were topics that needed to be included in the books and waiting for a new policy would have been too late. One revision was done to take care of the immediate changes, but the major revision will happen with the latest exercise.”
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Changes to be in line with New Education Policy
The next change that will be made in the textbooks will be in line with the New Education Policy and the NCF that will be formed according to the education policy. Textbooks in India are currently formulated according to the NCF 2005, which is a rule book for preparing school textbooks.
The NCF has been revised four times so far — in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005. The new proposed revision will be the fifth of the framework.
Revision of NCERT textbooks has also been suggested in the New Education Policy draft. It has been advised that the textbooks should be revised to contain only the essential core material in each subject, keeping in mind a constructivist, discovery-based, analysis-based, engaging, and enjoyable style of learning.
It also suggests that NCERT should also prepare a few supplementary units in certain subjects, in addition to this core material, which may be used to enhance the core material in various states.
The Modi government is currently studying the education policy draft submitted by a committee headed by K. Kasturirangan, the former ISRO chief. Public comments have also been sought on the policy draft, and a policy will be finalised on the basis of various consultations, feedback and suggestions mentioned in the draft.
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