The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Curriculum reforms must be included in Education Bill'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Curriculum reforms must be included in Education Bill'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 25. The implications of the Free and Compulsory Education Bill on proposed curriculum reforms must be taken into account while drafting its new document, it was advocated at the second meeting of the National Steering Committee, set up to review the National Curriculum Framework by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Currently being reviewed by a committee constituted by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the Bill was one of the focal issues of the meeting. Elementary education as a fundamental right and its implications for curriculum reform was another important subject of the discussion that saw the experts focusing on flexibility of curriculum and plurality of textbooks, role of teachers and teacher educators, reforms in the examination system and the importance of building a culture of peace and harmony in a pluralistic society.

Some of the questions raised in the context of education as a fundamental right were related to the teacher-learner ratio and children of disadvantaged groups and rural children, especially girl students and the structure of curriculum for them. Also discussed were the issues of school autonomy, plurality of instructional and other support materials and decentralisation of education by involving states, districts and blocks.

The two-day meeting that began on Sunday was headed by eminent educationists and scientist Prof. Yashpal, who remarked that the act of pooling such vast expertise in the area of school education had indeed generated hope for meaningful curricular reforms.

While pointing out that a fresh approach to school education and its related concerns would soon be in place, Prof. Yashpal said a coherent vision is emerging from the work being done by the focus groups.

Describing curriculum and syllabus review as an act of social deliberation to create new educational ethos across the country, the NCERT Director, Krishna Kumar, informed the group that curriculum and syllabus review was being carried out with the goal of reducing the burden of joyless learning.

Highlighting the problems faced by rural children from poverty stricken backgrounds, the chairperson of the National Focus Group, Shanta Sinha, said the rigid school system, curriculum and examination system presented insurmountable problems to such children and suggested a continuum between pre-school and primary education.

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