CBSE schools in a fix over textbooks

CBSE schools in a fix over textbooks

Worried that NCERT books might be made mandatory for Classes I to VIII from this year itself

While a number of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools in the city use textbooks by various publishers for Classes I to VIII, a circular issued by the board, a few days ago, has put many of them in a dilemma.

The circular specifies that arrangements are being made for the availability of NCERT textbooks in schools across the country.

This has led to worries among schools that the board might bring in a rule for compulsory usage of these textbooks in the coming academic year.

The circular also specifies that schools can place orders online for NCERT books till February 22.

The CBSE, though, is yet to address the confusion among schools on whether this would be compulsory.

“While the circular does not specify whether the NCERT textbooks have to be used compulsorily from the coming academic year, it puts many of us in a tight spot as orders have already been placed for new textbooks in December for the 2017-18 academic year from the publishers,” said a principal of a city school.

Orders placed

The Chennai Sahodaya Schools Complex (CSSC) had, earlier, sent a representation to the board on the behalf of schools from across Tamil Nadu stating that while they were ready to follow the compulsory implementation of NCERT textbooks if implemented, they would like the rule to come into place from the 2018-19 academic year as most schools were done choosing textbooks for the year and had placed orders for the same.

“While it is mandatory for Classes XI to XII to use the NCERT textbooks, the board has allowed affiliated schools to use textbooks by other publishers for the rest of the classes and follow their curriculum based on the broad CBSE framework.

“The CBSE affiliation by-laws too specify that the schools are free to pick and use books by private publishers for middle school classes,” said Ajeeth Prasath Jain, Senior Principal of Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram.

The State, however, is not entirely new to change of this magnitude. Matriculation, Anglo Indian and Oriental schools all adopted the ‘Samacheer Kalvi’ system a few years ago.

“If the CBSE clarifies and brings in a rule that NCERT books will have to be used across all schools, it will definitely narrow down the learning disparities among students from different States. Even though the textbooks used presently are based on CBSE curriculum, the content varies widely,” said K.R. Malathi, CEO, Auuro Educational Services. “If the rule is being brought in, the board should, however, give schools at least a year or two to make a complete shift to the NCERT textbooks,” she said.

S. Poorvaja 

 Thanks to : THE HINDU - 20.02.2017