EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

it is in civics that one gets to see the "presence of the female element" in abundance. (Asian Age
15.5.04)
16 th May
De-saffronise school books: Academics (11)
New Delhi, May 15: REVERSAL, REPAIR, reassessment and review are the much-repeated
words in the academic community's recommendations for the new government's education policy.
Also being sought is an immediate assessment of the damage to the institutions and to the
education policy during in the last six years, and undoing the damage. "It is like coming to a town
after it has been hit by an earthquake. First, the damage done has to be assessed and then steps
have to be taken to undo the damage," says Prof Krishna Kumar of the Central Institute of Education,
Delhi University The first concern seems to be saffronisation of school curriculum that the
academics want reversed immediately, especially the use of history textbooks as an instrument of
communal propaganda. Curricular reforms are needed with greater empowerment of the state
and regional authorities within a national curricular framework, stresses Kumar. Former head of
the Social Sciences department in NCERT, Arjun Dev, feels the academic nature of the NCERT
has been destroyed. "It no longer comprises academicians but people who implement an
ideology. In fact, most appointments to academic institutions... consisted of people who would
follow the ideological agenda of the BJP or those who would agree to implement their agenda.
Those appointments ought to be reviewed," says Dev. (Hindustan Times 16.5.04)
20 th May
CBSE cuts down chemistry syllabus for Classes XI, XII (11)
New Delhi: Chemistry students of Classes XI and XII are in for a surprise this year. The Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to reduce the curriculum load by deleting
certain topics from the syllabus for the March 2005 examination. The decision was taken after
reservations were expressed about the extra burden put on students by the New National Council
of Education Research and Training (NCERT) books. CBSE has come out with a circular listing
topics from the syllabus which will be non-evaluative for next year’s exam . The decision has
been taken after holding a series of orientation programmes and workshops with teachers. Study
of science should be a pleasure and not a burden on the students, said director (academics) G.
Balasubramanian. The bulk of changes at the Class XII level relate to the matter present in blue
and green boxes in the NCERT’s text book. (Times of India 20.5.04)
21 st May
Poor education leads to dropouts (11)
New Delhi, May 20: "We do not want classes in tents. It distracts us while studying," says Savita,
a member of Bal Panchayat. She was echoing the voice of thousands of youth across the
country, whom she had met in the last six months during several interaction sessions to highlight
the problems faced by adolescents. Speaking at a press conference on the eve of a three-day
national consultation entitled "Young People: Towards a healthy future" to begin from Friday,
Savita said the poor quality education was leading to an increase in dropouts particularly girls.
On drug abuse, another member said, "Nobody knows better than us, what it means to grow up
in an environment where different is of substance abuse, from tobacco to inhaling toxic
substances, is so easily available for young people." The consultation will address youth-related
issues of health, particularly reproductive and sexual health, and rights and development. The
idea is to develop a strong and vibrant network of youth, locally and internationally, to bring
together their diverse viewpoints related to the issue. The aim will be to improve policies and
programmes at the national and state levels in order to replicate proven strategies. Mr Bruno
Oudmayer, country director of Plan India, welcomed the 10th Five-Year Plan initiatives for making
adolescent concerns as a priority issue. With adolescent in the 10-19 years numbering 230
million, it's high time that their concerns merit serious attention. (Asian Age 21.5.04)
23 rd MAY
De-saffronisation high on new HRD ministry agenda (11)