Opinion: School Textbooks Need Reforms and Rightsizing

Some members of the advisory committees of the NCERT have resigned in an attempt to disassociate themselves from the reforms that the premier education body has decided to implement. These reforms are not driven by the whims and fancies of the NCERT decision-makers. The changes followed thorough deliberation and careful consideration, primarily taking into account the recommendations endorsed unanimously by a cross-party parliamentary standing committee in 2021-22.

It is noteworthy that there absolutely is no record to suggest that these experts had ever voiced their opposition to the recommendations of the parliamentary panel, publicly or formally. Their opposition, drawing so much media attention, is at best an afterthought.

This manufactured controversy is a classic case of much ado about nothing. The ongoing debate has missed several points on which the parliamentary panel very thoughtfully reflected.

The panel's report submitted to parliament in 2021 on 'Reforms in Content and Design of School Text Books', says, in its opening remarks, "School textbooks are a primary pedagogical tool available for the impartation of education through the multitude of diversity that defines our country. The development of quality textbooks, including both printed and electronic textbooks (e-textbooks), becomes most important."