Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Substandard textbook, says Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has said that the controversial Class VII social studies textbook does not impart knowledge, distorts history and propagates negation of religion. In an article released for publication here on Thursday, Mr. Chandy listed five reasons for the Congress party’s opposition to the textbook. He said the 63-page Part I social science book hardly had any content that would impart knowledge. It was substandard when compared to the CBSE textbook for Class VII.

Stating that the hidden agenda of the Left Democratic Front government had been exposed, Mr. Chandy said this was evident if one read the textbook along with the teachers’ handbook, reference books and web sites prescribed for reference.

He cited distortion of history as the second reason for his party’s opposition to the textbook. The book had trivialised the freedom movement and freedom fighters. Instead of introducing the freedom movement and freedom fighters, it highlights trivial historical facts. While discussing the farm struggles in Kerala, it highlights only those under the leadership of communists. The textbook conveniently sets aside the early contributions of the Indian National Congress in this direction.

Teachers had been given directions at cluster meetings to refer to the press clips available on the web site www.firstministry.kerala.gov.in. Out of 211 press cuttings available, 143 were clippings from the Deshabhimani, an organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The Mathrubhumi came second with 36, The Hindu 24, Malayala Manorama seven and Prabhatham one. Other newspapers are kept out. An attempt has been made to inject a distorted perception of the ‘liberation struggle,’ he said.

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