EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

CABE, somewhat smaller in size had completed its term in 1994 - and will meet from time to time
to advise the Ministry on all aspects of the country’s education policy. (Indian Express 5.7.04)
8 th July
Textbook solution to Ram Janmabhoomi dispute (11)
Lucknow, July 7: THE UTTAR Pradesh Education Board appears to be blissfully oblivious to the
distortion of Indian history in school textbooks. The latest row concerns history textbook Bharat
Ka Vrihad Itihaas. A passage on Ayodhya on page 296 of the book reads that the place where
the Babri Masjid once stood is the Ram Janmabhoomi. The writer adds that documentary
evidence has conclusively established that the site was, in fact, the birthplace of Lord Ram.
The Deeni Taleem Council is planning to move court on the issue. Writer Rajaraman — principal
of Dayanand Inter-College, Narval, Kanpur — made these changes in the 2003-04 edition of the
book. When asked by the Hindustan Times how he made these changes without verifying the
facts, a non-plussed Dr Rajaraman said he had picked up a passage from Pages on Indian
Archaeology by Dr Shiv Swaroop Sahai. That book was published by Republican Press, South
Malaika, Allahabad. Sahai is the head of department} of Ancient History at Sri Murli Manohar.P.G.
College in Ballia. Originally written by Sri Netra Pandey, the book is being taught since 1982.
After Pandey's death, Rajaraman incorporated a separate section on India's historical cities...
Rajaraman admitted he had not taken-' the UP Board's permission to make those, changes. "Yes,
I think I erred in not taking the permission of the board," he said. (Hindustan Times 8.7.04)
10 th July
Court seeks report on school quota or poor (11)
New Delhi, July 9: THE DELHI High Court on Friday sought a report from the DDA, MCD, land
and development officer and the education department about unaided private schools, which
have failed to provide free education to underprivilged children. These schools had agreed to the
condition of free education in return for allotment of land at cheap rates. Taking exception to the
failure of the Delhi government and the land owning agencies to crack the whip on the defaulting
schools, a bench comprising Chief Justice B.C. Patel and Justice B.D. Ahmed asked them to file
their report by September one, a week ahead of the next hearing. The bench asked the government
to publicise the list of such schools in newspapers as also on the notice boards of the
schools. The Delhi High Court expressed surprise on the Delhi Government's order, according to
which the condition would be operative from May 1, this year. Petitioner Social Jurist's counsel
Ashok Agrawal pointed out that despite the court's order, schools were not admitting students
from weaker sections of the society Earlier, the high court had asked the Delhi government to
probe if over 1,500 such schools, which had been allotted land on the condition of giving 25 per
cent seats to poor students and grant them free education, were complying with it. (Hindustan
Times 10.7.04)
13 th July
Let Left sulk, HRD may not touch books (11)
NEW DELHI, JULY 12: LOOKS LIKE the HRD Ministry would rather have the Left frown — by
setting aside the recommendations of the three-member panel on NCERT textbooks — than
invite the wrath of students and parents by changing the books in the middle of the academic
session. Sources say, the Ministry plans to make its dilemma over the issue public. And its
decision-makers are of the view that changing the books at the moment will do more harm than
good. Over the past few days, the Ministry has carefully weighed popular views — some
principals have been consulted —and the possibility of the BJP-led Opposition launching an
agitation on the subject has also been assessed. Sources in the Ministry admit that it is also the
complicated nature of the recommendations made by the panel comprising Professors S. Settar,
Barun De and J.S. Grewal that has led to the impasse. The Ministry is expected to suggest to
parents and teachers that they replace the NCERT textbooks with any of the five or six
alternatives the experts have identified. What the Ministry pro-"poses to do is announce that it
completely accepts the panel's views that the textbooks have "factual errors" and there are
passages which are prejudiced. (Indian Express 13.7.040)