Barring Kerala, TN, Bengal, Telangana, all states have provided inputs for National Curriculum Framework

NEW DELHI: Except Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Telangana, all other states and union territories have come forward to provide their inputs for National Curriculum Frameworks (NCF), the minister of state for education Annpurna Devi told the Lok Sabha today.

Answering a question by the Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kodikunnil on whether the Government was aware of reports indicating that the Karnataka government expunging a chapter related to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh from Class 10 text books, the minister informed that the concept has not been deleted but is being taught in Class 7.

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“While revising the textbooks, the chapter or concept related to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh has not been expunged from any class textbooks. At present, Karnataka State Government curriculum textbooks have the concepts about Bhagat Singh in 7th and 10th classes,” the minister said.

In addition, “The Karnataka State Government has informed that they have revised the 6th to 10th Social Science and 1 to 10th Kannada Language textbooks for the year 2022-23.”

The education ministry said, “NCERT has initiated the processes of development of National Curriculum Frameworks using a bottom-up approach where in States and UTs are also involved in providing their inputs drawing from gross root levels. Till now, except Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Telangana, all States and UTs have come forward to provide their inputs.”

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Clarifying further, the minister of education said, “The formulation of a new and comprehensive National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) will be undertaken by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) which will be based on the principles of this NEP 2020, frontline curriculum needs and after discussion with all stakeholders.”

“It has been further stated in the policy that states will prepare their own curricula, which may be based on the NCFSE prepared by NCERT to the extent possible, and prepare textbooks incorporating state flavour and material as needed. While doing so, it must be borne in mind that NCERT curriculum would be taken as the nationally acceptable criterion,” the education ministry further elaborated.

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“Moreover, one of the principles of NEP 2020 is ‘a rootedness and pride in India’ which may lead to inclusion of content related to India’s struggle for freedom and important figures of national movement,” the ministry added.

The ministry said that it has not received any suggestions from academia to consider inclusion of lessons featuring young or under-50 achievers and scientists and activists from various fields.