Use NCERT textbooks, have two levels of maths in Karnataka: Private schools

NEW DELHI: A group of private-unaided school forums, on Tuesday, recommended that the state use National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks in Karnataka’s secondary schools to improve quality of education in the state.

The forum, under the ambit of the Karnataka State School Education Quality Development Joint Committee, recommended that the state introduce “two-level math” in Classes 9 to 12, similar to the basic and standard level used by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The standard level has more difficult questions, while the basic level is for students who do not intend to pursue mathematics for higher education.

The committee also recommends that the state modify its curriculum to be on par with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and that the textbooks of Classes 1 to 5 be revised for advanced mathematics and science on the pattern of central curriculum.

The committee, while welcoming the state decision to conduct board exams for Classes 5 and 8, said that the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) examination method should be “revised” and that “grace marks” and “normalisations of marks” should be removed. It also called for the state to align its examination systems with other national and state school examinations.

NCERT textbooks and CUET

With the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), academics are increasingly worried that state students will fall behind others that study the NCERT syllabus to which the CUET questions are aligned with.

While the Karnataka government has released the Karnataka Curriculum Framework for the foundational stage, for students between 3 to 8 years of age, it is yet to release the curriculum for school education.

Moreover, the current Congress-led government has rejected the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which was implemented by the BJP-led government in 2021. A 15-member panel is expected to release the draft framework for the new Karnataka Education Policy in August.