NCERT clarifies on syllabus to be followed by CBSE schools

The submission was in response to a plea moved by advocate M Purushothaman in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the CBSE to strictly adhere to the syllabus prescribed by NCERT and not to overload the students. 

In its counter, NCERT also submitted that the National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005) recommends only two books (Language and Mathematics) for classes 1 and 2, and three books (Language, EVS and Mathematics) for classes 3 to 5.

NCF 2005 recommends values, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to be integrated across subject areas, because in the constructivist approach, children learn to access information rather than rote memorise the same from the book, including general knowledge.

Also, noting that NCF-2005 brought out by NCERT states the increasing commercialisation of education, which indicates a shifting of responsibility for education from the state to the family and the community, the counter said, “We need to be vigilant about the pressures to commodify schools and the application of market-related concepts to schools and school quality.”

Further, pointing out that NCERT’s published textbooks were cost-effective and affordable for students at all the stages of school education, the counter said, “Since education is in the concurrent list, state/UT is free to adopt or develop their own textbooks. However, schools must not force students to purchase books from the schools. Parents together need to come forward to discuss the issue with the school.” 

The petitioner had contended that while NCERT syllabus prescribed only two subjects for Class 1 under CBSE, they were instead forced to study eight subjects, including computer science, general knowledge and Hindi.