EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

Ayurveda, Psychology, Drawing and Painting, Sociology, Foundation Science, Siddha, Indian
Music,'Western Music, Logic, Advanced English and Philosophy — will be dropped from the list of
subjects for Higher Secondary classes due to poor demand. However, Advanced Tamil "shall be
retained as one of the optional subject in Group III and IV," the order said. The Department has
decided to introduce Computer Science as one of the subject from IX standard and later extend it
from VI to VIII standard. The authorities have also decided to introduce science experiments for
classes IX and X. One period per week will be allotted for practicals. (Indian Express 26.5.04)
Delhi takes the lead in 'de-saffronisation' (11)
NEW DELHI, MAY 25. Even before the new Manmohan Singh Government at the Centre could
initiate steps for proposed "detoxification" of textbooks at the national level, the Sheila Dikshit
Government here in Delhi has taken the lead in de-saffronisation of textbooks meant for children
studying in schools across the Capital. The Directorate of Education in collaboration with the
State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has introduced 47 new textbooks
in various subjects rejecting the old ones issued by the National Council of Educational Research
and Training (NCERT). The new textbooks, already being distributed in schools, would be out in
the market before the summer vacation ends on June 30. These textbooks are meant for children
studying in Class I to VIII after which the course prescribed by the Central Board of
Secondary Education applies. "We were not in favour of introducing the NCERT textbooks as
they contained distorted history. We did not want to pollute the minds of young students with false
historical facts and therefore the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, instructed that Delhi should come
out with its own textbooks for these classes," explains the Delhi Education Minister, Arvinder
Singh Lovely. According to the Minister, work to translate and print these textbooks in Urdu has
begun. "Under the directions of the Chief Minister, it had also been decided to introduce English
language and grammar books in primary schools of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi," he
added. (The Hindu 26.5.04)
27 th May
Rajasthan to introduce NCERT syllabus (11)
JAIPUR, MAY 26. The Rajasthan Government has decided to introduce the syllabus of the
National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in all Government schools from
the primary section onward in the new academic session beginning in July this year. English will
be taught as a compulsory subject from the first standard for the first time in the State.
Announcing the decision here this evening, the State Education Minister, Ghanshyam Tiwari, said
the new books on the NCERT pattern had been published by the State Government at a lesser
cost. The books will be provided free of cost to all students up to the middle level and to the
specified categories at the secondary level. As part of the NCERT curriculum, the subjects such
as disaster management, road safety, human rights, fundamental duties of citizens, consumer
protection and participation in democratic process will be introduced to raise the standard of
schools to that of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Mr. Tiwari said the subjects
other than those listed in the NCERT syllabus, such as work experience and health and physical
education, would be continued. English will find place in the school curricula in all classes for the
first time. The State Government decided to bring about the significant change in the pattern of
education following a report submitted recently by the B.L. Jaiman Committee appointed on
January 1 this year. (The Hindu 27.5.04)
28 th May
Desaffronising education will not be easy (11)
New Delhi, May 27: FOR HRD minister Arjun Singh, sorting out the IIM fee-cut controversy may
prove easier than 'desaffronising' textbooks. Senior ministry officials say that Singh's
predecessor, Murli Manohar Joshi, left no loopholes and reversing his decisions will be no easy
task. And as the decision concerns the education of lakhs of schoolchildren across India — and
some in Kendriya Vidyalayas abroad — textbooks cannot be desaffronised overnight. At best, a
few "very objectionable portions" can be subtly altered with due process. After meeting the Delhi
chief minister on Thursday, Singh said that though a number of suggestions had been received
from academicians regarding changes required in NCERT textbooks, "no action" would be taken