Jharkhand State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) personnel are set to release the newly compiled textbooks of classes 6 to 8 soon. SCERT members are in final stage of drafting the textbook series of all subjects that includes English, Mathematics, Social Science, Hindi, Moral Science, Sanskrit and Science. And, with the decision it has saved approximately Rs. six crore that is given annually to National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) New Delhi by the State government for preparing the textbooks for school children.
All newly compiled books would be brought in from the next academic year 2017 in all government schools after due vetting by NCERT and Regional institute of Education (RIE) Bhubaneswar officials. The council is also revising and updating the books of classes 1 to 5 that were implemented in government schools last year.
“At present by preparing our own textbooks and redesigning the syllabus, the State government has saved Rs. 6.4 crore. In the last week of November, NCERT officials will visit the capital city for approving the textbook series and will give their final consent. Maximum work has been completed by the concerned teachers and designers appointed for preparing the books,” said, Director, Secondary Education, Manish Ranjan.
For compiling the textbook series, the council has hired around 80 highly trained teachers from various streams for highlighting Jharkhand’s own heritage, culture, history, geography including the biography of few eminent personalities of State from different fields.
“All the government teachers involved in the task have been rigorously trained and have attended the workshop organized by NCERT as well before taking up the project. In the first stage, 80 teachers were involved in the venture, for proof reading approximately 60 teachers gave their valuable suggestions. At present, 40 teachers including designers are giving final touch to all the newly revised textbooks,” added Ranjan.
SCERT has invited suggestions from different section of people to upgrade the book pattern. Students will also get to read about few latest topics like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, sanitation, Make in India etc in the upgraded book series.
To make the syllabus more interactive and State centric, Ranjan added, “Emphasis is being given on local issues related to environment, water shortage, forest cover of the State etc. keeping in view Jharkhand State unique features, history, culture including the needs and aspirations of its people. Famous personalities from Jharkhand, its culture, dance forms, geographical details, social issues like child labour and human trafficking, nutrition, human rights, traffic rules, naxal problems, disability, gender equality have been updated while compiling the textbook series.”
Interestingly, for illustrations, each photograph has been designed newly by the designer hired by SCERT. No Google photos or downloaded pictures have been utilized in any chapter for any subject. All the texts and photographs will be the copyright of SCERT. More than 1000 photographs so far have designed for different chapters by the designers thus far.