The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) had earlier launched a review of syllabus and textbooks for schools to reduce the curriculum load on children from the next academic year (2022-23) to ensure that they make a “speedy recovery” in learning, which has been hit by Covid disruptions.

The NCERT is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India which was established in 1961. Textbooks published by NCERT are prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from classes I to XII, with exceptions for a few subjects.

As per the news report published on the Indian Express website, in a letter dated December 15, the then NCERT director Mr Sridhar Srivastava wrote to the heads of departments of the Council to carry out the review by involving internal and external experts and propose the changes by December 28, 2021. Mr Srivastava in his letter expressed his empathy towards students who struggled a lot in learning online as well as other modes due to the pandemic. While stressing for the review of the syllabus, he referred to the observations of the Parliamentary standing committee and the National Education Policy 2020.

National Education Policy 2020 states the reduction in content and increased flexibility of school curriculum and renewed emphasis on constructive rather than rote learning must be accompanied by changes in school textbooks.

As per the 17^th February news report published on the Hindustan Times website, the new director of the NCERT Mr Dinesh Prasad Saklani said, “the process has been completed for the majority of the subjects. We are focussing on rationalizing the topics, which have either been taught in the previous classes or already there in other subjects. Repetition will be done away with and it will be sufficient to rationalize the syllabus to meet the present need. We are also coordinating with the state boards and universities to maintain uniformity. It has to be a collaborative effort so that our students don’t find themselves in a disadvantaged situation when they appear for different entrance exams. I am expecting the process will be completed by next month”.

Mr Saklani in his address to the media expressed his priorities and views on various other topics concerned to NCERT. Log on to the Hindustan Times portal for the full report.

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Sources

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/ncert-reviewing-syllabi-textbooks-to-reduce-load-on-students-7675887/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/preparing-ncert-for-nep-2020-is-a-priority-ncert-director-saklani-101645035266840-amp.html