NCERT textbook team members write: Curriculum has been streamlined for the times

The recent debate on streamlining textbook content, developed by NCERT some 17 years ago, specifically in history and political science, has led us to look critically at the objectives of the curriculum and its ever-evolving nature. A curriculum is not just about the experiences it intends for the student; You must also consider the alignment of content, learning activities, assessment, physical settings, and ways of thinking and practicing. Many theorists also stress the importance of the socioepistemic context in which the curriculum is put into practice. Also, in times of digital learning and the availability of a variety of teaching and learning materials, it is important to use materials beyond textbooks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCERT undertook several initiatives to help students deal with stress and anxiety and facilitate learning. These included online sessions on subject-based learning, the Alternative Academic Calendar, and Sahyog sessions. Students have learned many more skills that schools cannot teach. However, studies have revealed that learning gaps have developed and various stakeholders, including Parliament’s Standing Committee, have raised concerns about the burden of the curriculum. The National Education Policy, 2020, endorsed the need to reduce content and increase flexibility in school curricula and textbooks. NCERT took a step toward streamlining textbooks across all stages and subject areas to offset lost time and facilitate quick recovery in students’ learning curves. In the rationalization exercise, NCERT teachers and experts took into account the following:

One, the overlapping of content between different subjects in the same class. Two, similar content in the lower or higher class in the same subject. Three, difficulty levels. Four, content that is easily accessible to children and does not require much intervention from teachers: it can be learned through self-study or peer-learning. Five, content that is not relevant in the present context.

NCERT streamlined textbooks in all subjects using this criteria. This exercise took place in 2020-2021 and details were made public for the benefit of schools in 2022-23. The schools accepted these changes and modified their curricula and assessment policies. The students also expressed their satisfaction. After the books were released for the year 2023-24, the content that was streamlined attracted media attention, especially the depiction of Mughals in history textbooks and the coverage of Mahatma Gandhi in the books. history and political science textbook.

NCERT took care of the connection between concepts/themes and no learning outcomes were lost. The accusations about the removal of the Mughal period are incorrect. Those who hold this view should review all textbooks for Classes 6-12 to ensure that everything that was removed or streamlined has been included, whether in the same subject in different classes or in a different subject in the same class. For example, content about Mahatma Gandhi finds a proper place in the history textbook, even if some aspects have been dropped from the political science textbook. Given the multidisciplinary approach under the NEP 2020, teachers are expected to address the topics while taking care of their connections in other subject areas.

It is worth noting that the Class XII History textbook, “Themes in Indian History Part-II”, has another topic on the Mughals, ‘Peasants, Zamindars and the State, Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (centuries XVI and XVII)’. This chapter covers important facets related to the society and economy of medieval times. Also, the subject rationalized in this textbook, “Kings and Chroniclers: The Mughal Courts (c. 16th and 17th Centuries)”, and the one retained covers the Mughal period based on sources of history such as Ain-i Akbari, Baburnama and various travel accounts. The Class XI textbook, “Themes of World History”, also makes reference to the Mughal ruler Babur. Timeline III in the same book refers to Babur, Akbar and also the building of the Taj Mahal. Mughal rule is also covered in the History for Class VII textbook, “Our Past -II”, under the topics of “Introduction: Tracking the changes over a thousand years”, “The Mughals (centuries XVI to XVII)” and “The XVIII century”. Political formations of the century”.

During the content analysis, it was observed that some statements were not presented as historical facts but as interpretations. For example, the think-tank considered the mention of Nathuram Godse’s caste in the Class XII History textbook “Topics in Indian History, Part III” to be inappropriate. Some statements were reformulated using the same criteria. However, minute details were not included in the streamlining list to avoid clutter. Furthermore, the Class VIII History textbook had statements about Godse without mentioning his caste.

Regarding the drop in content in political science, the experts suggested that most of the box with the title “Mahatma Gandhi’s Sacrifice” mentioned in the class XII textbook “Politics in India since independence” , was enough to describe Gandhi’s important contribution. The “Emergency-Related Controversies” section was removed from the same textbook. The committee considered the advances related to the imposition of the Emergency, retained in the reprint version, sufficient to give students the basic knowledge about the crisis of the democratic order and the abuse of power.

The NCERT received feedback from teachers from KVS and other CBSE schools and professionals on the streamlined content across all subject areas. The Ministry of Education has uploaded a preliminary draft of the NCF for school education on the website. This will provide the roadmap for next generation curricula and textbooks. Suggestions have been sought from the public and the media. The web link for NCF-SE is https://ncf.ncert.gov.in/webadmin/assets/b27f04eb-65af-467f-af12-105275251546

The writers are part of the NCERT textbook team.