Kerala CM Criticizes NCERT for Omitting Content, Unveils New Textbooks

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed strong condemnation towards the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for omitting specific sections from higher secondary textbooks.

Vijayan alleged that NCERT's decision was influenced by vested interests and warned of detrimental effects on students. He unveiled additional textbooks for classes 11 and 12 in the state, including the removed content.

Vijayan emphasized that students were receiving biased textbooks that could reshape their perceptions of society and history negatively. He announced the Left government's initiative to introduce supplementary texts as an alternative means of ensuring comprehensive education.

Questioning NCERT's claim that the changes were made based on expert recommendations to streamline textbooks, Vijayan challenged the anonymity of these experts.

He stressed the importance of the omitted portions, which covered topics such as Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, Mughal rule, and poverty. He argued that the removal was driven by specific political interests rather than the intention to reduce the weight of textbooks.

Regarding the exclusion of Gandhi's assassination chapter, Vijayan accused it of whitewashing individuals and organizations involved and cautioned against glorifying figures like Godse, Gandhi's assassin.

Vijayan further stated that the country required an education policy aligned with constitutional values, socialist ideals, gender justice, and scientific awareness. He criticized the removal of lessons that uphold these values, such as scientific awareness and secularism. While Kerala has its own textbooks up to class 10, NCERT textbooks are used for classes 11 and 12. The state's higher secondary examinations will now include chapters from the newly introduced supplementary textbooks.

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