Over 105 educationists, including vice-chancellors and presidents of IIMs, have supported the NCERT’s move to rationalize textbooks, saying the process of updating the syllabus is an attempt by some “arrogant and selfish” people to take their names off the textbooks .
Echoing his sentiments, University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said there is no merit in the “hum and whining” by some academics, and insisted that revising the content is appropriate.
A day earlier, a group of educationists, who were part of the textbook development committees of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), wrote to the council demanding that their names be removed from the books as their “collective effort” continues .
A few days ago, political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar asked the NCERT to remove their names from textbooks over “several original revisions of the original texts”.
A joint statement issued by 106 educationists on Thursday night alleged that there have been deliberate attempts to defame the NCERT over the past three months and that it “reflects the intellectual arrogance of educationists who want students to study 17-year-old textbooks”. Do”. Doing”.
The signatories to the statement include vice-chancellors of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Tezpur University, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, English and Foreign Languages University, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi University, Bangalore University, Behrampore University, Gujarat Central University. Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Director NIT Jalandhar, Chairman Board of Governors, IIM Kashipur, ICSSR Secretary and NIOS President.
“In the last three months, there have been deliberate attempts to malign the NCERT, a premier public institution, and to disrupt the much-needed process of updating the syllabus. Through this name-calling spectacle, an attempt to attract media attention What educationists have forgotten is that textbooks are the result of collective intellectual engagement and painstaking effort.”
He said that the scholars who have suggested changes in the textbooks have not suggested any “epidemic breakdown” in the existing field of knowledge, but rationalization of the content of the curriculum according to the need of contemporary knowledge.
“With regard to the judgment of what is unacceptable and what is desirable, it has been argued that each new generation has the right to add and remove something from the existing knowledge base,” it added.
NCERT has stated that the question of taking back one’s contribution does not arise as textbooks at the school level are developed on the basis of knowledge and understanding on a given subject and individual authorship is not claimed at any stage .
In their joint statement, the educationists said, “Through misinformation, rumors and false allegations, they want to derail the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and obstruct the updation of NCERT textbooks.” Their demand is that the students should continue their studies from 17. Years old textbooks reveal intellectual arrogance rather than textbooks updated with contemporary developments and educational advancements.”
“In their quest to advance their political agenda, they are ready to jeopardize the future of crores of children across the country. With students eagerly waiting for updated textbooks, these academics are constantly creating hurdles and complete derailing the process,” it said.
The deletion of several topics and passages from the NCERT textbooks last month had triggered a controversy, with the opposition accusing the BJP-led Center of “revenge”.
At the heart of the controversy was the fact that although the changes were notified as part of a rationalization exercise, some controversial deletions were not mentioned. This led to allegations about a bid to covertly remove these parts.
UGC chief Kumar said, “The attacks on NCERT by some ‘academicians’ for revising textbooks in recent times are unwarranted. There is no substance in the hue and cry of these academicians. The motive behind their rhetoric seems to be something else.” Is.” Cause ,
He said that NCERT is fully justified in rationalizing the contents of its textbooks.
Kumar said, “The current textbook revision is not the only one that has been done. NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time. NCERT has repeatedly stated that revision of textbooks stems from the feedback and suggestions of various stakeholders. “