Karnataka has made a significant change in its education system by introducing the National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) textbooks for students from class I across all State board schools. This initiative aims to elevate the quality of education right from the primary level.
The new NCERT textbooks for English and Maths have been implemented for classes I to V, while Hindi and English textbooks will be used for classes VI and VII. These NCERT textbooks are already in use for key subjects like science and mathematics in classes VIII to X.
Official Statements and Rationale
In a statement to The Hindu, Vikas Kishor Suralkar, the Commissioner for School Education, remarked that although NCERT books were previously utilized in high school for subjects like mathematics and science, this is the first time they will be introduced from class I in all State curriculum schools, including government, aided, and private institutions throughout Karnataka.
NCERT textbooks are prevalent in schools following the Central curriculum and are regarded as more contemporary compared to their State curriculum counterparts. This discrepancy in educational resources is one reason why students from CBSE and ICSE schools tend to excel in competitive exams such as CET, NEET, and JEE. Additionally, questions based on the NCERT syllabus are frequently asked in various recruitment tests, including civil services, banking, and railways.
Moreover, the new textbooks are designed to support bilingual classes, which will commence in 25,014 schools across 15 districts for students from classes I to V.
Reactions from Educators
The decision has received a warm welcome from teachers and private school administrators. One headmaster from a private school in Bengaluru stated, “State board private schools are required to procure books from the Karnataka Text Book Society (KTBS). However, the content in subjects like English, mathematics, and science was not as effective, leading us to rely on private textbooks. With the introduction of NCERT books, we no longer need to purchase private texts.”
On the other hand, some government school teachers have expressed concerns regarding the need for adequate training to effectively teach the new curriculum. According to a government teacher, “The Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) has only provided eight days of training for a few teachers on the new books. The differences between NCERT and State curriculum books necessitate a higher level of training, so the School Education Department must enhance training provisions.”
Suralkar assured that the initial training stage for numerous teachers has been successfully completed and noted that more training will be conducted in phases by DSERT.
