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New Delhi: In a guideline issued to schools across India earlier this month, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has directed institutions to take responsibility for the textbooks introduced by them in the curriculum, and those issued by any central or state boards or agencies. are not recommended.
comes in view of the instructions many recent events Schools are being set on fire for controversial teaching materials.
The MoE launched the “Guidelines on School Safety and Security” in early October, which addresses various aspects of safety on school premises and gives directions regarding the well-being of children in school. Point one of the guidelines refers to the syllabus. The guidelines apply to both government and private schools.
As per the guidelines, if the schools are not following the textbooks prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and respective state boards, “the school will prepare a list of Books prescribed/selected by it on its website and notice board”.
“It will also put up a written declaration on its website, which is jointly signed by the manager and principal in private schools, and in government schools by the principal or headmaster of the school, with the responsibility of conducting a thorough investigation of the school and by the school. After going through the contents of the prescribed books,” the guidelines add.
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‘Not possible to blame NCERT, SCERT’
Speaking about the guidelines, an NCERT official told ThePrint, “There have been several incidents in the past when schools have been found to teach controversial textbooks and at times, they are textbooks that have not been prescribed by us. It is not possible for the government, NCERT or SCERT to take the blame for things they have not prescribed for them.”
“Therefore, it is important that schools take responsibility for the textbooks they are offering themselves, certainly taking into account other specifications in school safety guidelines,” he said.
The guidelines also make it clear that the books chosen by the schools “should not promote any kind of discrimination on grounds of caste, class, religion, gender, ethnicity, language etc”.
In addition, “it should promote sensitivity towards environmental protection, gender equality, inclusion, ethical behavior, etc., including eating, hygiene and sanitation, reading, working together, helping each other, cooperation rather than competition, etc.” Healthy habits should be promoted”.
The guidelines also mentioned that “the school routine should include adequate space for dialogue, reflection and discussion on issues of school safety, road safety, healthy and nutritious food, adolescence”.
It states that during the morning assembly, during the mid-day meal, in the playground, during the classes, the relevant subjects should be discussed. “Space should also be created in the school program for training and exercises to address disaster management,” it adds.
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Flack for controversial teaching material
School textbooks, both prescribed by NCERT and which are not, have been in controversy from time to time for containing some material.
In a recent incident there was an uproar about ‘islamophobic material‘ in Textbook of Class 8 Social Science in Telangana. There was a chapter in the textbook which had a picture of a terrorist holding a gun in one hand and the Quran in the other. After highlighting this, the Telangana School Department said that they will take appropriate action against the publisher.
Earlier in May, a poem in NCERT Hindi textbook draw flake For “promoting child labor” on social media. Poem ‘Mango’ basket of‘ On her head was the image of a young girl with mangoes, the way street vendors and vendors do.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also in 2018 introduced A new clause in its bye-laws states that schools may lose their affiliation if they offer books containing “objectionable material”.
(Edited by Polomi Banerjee)
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