EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

it is only appropriate for the linguistic minority to learn the regional language. The resistance to
learn the regional language will lead to alienation from the mainstream of life resulting in linguistic
fragmentation within the State, which is an anathema to national integration." Learning of different
languages would bridge the cultural barriers and contribute to cultural integration. "It is not
possible to accept the proposition that the people living in a particular State cannot be asked to
study the regional language," the Bench said dismissing a petition. The writ petition filed by Usha
Mehta stems from a policy decision of the Maharashtra Government whereby the study of Marati
language was made compulsory in schools in the State. As a result, the English medium schools
run by Gujarati linguistic minorities were compelled to teach four languages — Hindi, English,
Marati and the mother tongue Gujarati — as against the accepted "three language formula."
The petitioner questioned the constitutional validity of the imposition of Marati language as
compulsory study in the minority schools on the ground that it violated Articles 29 (1) and 30 (1)
(rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions). (Hindu 6.6.04)
Lok Jumbish workers want jobs in literacy campaign (11)
JAIPUR, JUNE 6. Workers of Lok Jumbish -- a project launched by the Rajasthan Government
for universalisation of elementary education in 1992 --have demanded that they be absorbed into
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan after the stipulated scrapping of Lok Jumbish on June 30 next. The State
Government reportedly is in favour of discontinuing the project after its third phase ends on June
30. Though a Prospective Staff Pattern meeting of the Education Department had made a
recommendation last year to shift the Lok Jumbish staff to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, no decision
has been taken on the issue. The Lok Jumbish Karmachari Union has pointed out that workers
have completed 6 to 12 years of contract service and their dismissal at this stage would deprive
them of their livelihood. "Most of the 948 workers will not be able to find job anywhere else and
their families would be adversely affected," said D.K. Chhangani, president of the union. The Lok
Jumbish workers from all over the State staged a demonstration at Statue Circle, near the State
Secretariat, here on Thursday and demanded that either the project be continued or they be
absorbed into the total literacy campaign with which they had been "informally" associated in the
13 districts, where Lok Jumbish was in force, for the past two years. (Hindu 7.6.04)
10 th June
City BJP at Kalam door over textbooks (11)
New Delhi, June 9: A delegation of Delhi BJP leaders met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on
Wednesday, seeking the withdrawal of the newly-introduced textbooks of the Delhi State Council
Educational Research and Training for government schools. The BJP delegation alleged that the
new SCERT textbooks for the government schools up to Class 8 were filled with "numerous
factual and typographical errors." They also held that the books had been written under the
influence of the Left. The BJP wants the SCERT textbooks to be replaced by the NCERT books
that were being used earlier. Putting forth their arguments before the President, the delegation
requested him to direct the Delhi government to withdraw the SCERT books. After the meeting,
Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan said not only were there factual and typographical errors, the
SCERT books are also more expensive than the NCERT ones. "These books are shoddily written
and reveal the poor scholarship at work," Dr Harshvardhan said. (Asian Age 10.6.04)
12 th June
Reverse 'Joshi legacy, ‘ say academics (11)
NEW DELHI, JUNE 11. Unhappy with the United Progressive Alliance (UFA) Government for not
beginning the task of "de-saffronising" educational institutions and withdrawing the controversial
textbooks introduced by the National Democratic Alliance (NBA), academics today demanded
early reversal of the "Murli Manohar Joshi legacy". The academics, in particular, demanded the
withdrawal of the history textbooks introduced by the National Council of Educational Research &
Training (NCERT) at the earliest so that they are not in circulation for another year. With a view to
mounting pressure in this regard on the new Human Resource Development Minister, Arjun
Singh, academics, historians and lawyers came together this afternoon under the SAHMAT
banner. Prabhat Patnaik of Jawaharlal Nehru University said what the academics were
demanding was not just a question of overturning the decision of a Government they did not