Following the massive political controversy triggered over the removal of chapter on prominent leaders of Haryana from textbooks, the Manohar lal Khattar Government has now taken a “U-turn” on the issue.
The BJP led State Government on Wednesday announced to introduce separate study material on prominent leaders of Haryana and State’s contribution to the freedom struggle of the country.
Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a chapter on Haryana’s contribution to the freedom struggle of the country would be included in the syllabus of classes V and VI in Government schools from this academic session.
While talking to the mediapersons here, the Minister said that a meeting of Education Department and SCERT was convened in this regard.
As the textbooks are already published and distributed in various schools, it has been decided that separate study material would be provided to students of classes V and VI during the current academic session, said the Minister.
The chapter namely ‘Haryana mein Azadi andalon’ would include names of prominent leaders of the state and the students would read about them, said he.
He added that the chapter would include details regarding the contribution of all freedom fighters of Haryana from 1857 till the time India attained independence.
On the question of removal of a chapter titled ‘Haryana ke Gaurav’ in a class V Hindi textbooks, he said that the State Government is committed towards honouring all great personalities and efforts are being made to improve the quality of education.
Many prominent Haryana leaders like Sir Chhotu Ram, former deputy Prime Minister Devi lal, ex-CM Bhupinder Hooda's father Ranbir Hooda and other personalities were the part of a chapter titled ‘Haryana ke Gaurav’ in a class V Hindi textbook that has been removed by the BJP led State Government from this academic session.
‘Haryana ke Gaurav’ was introduced in the textbook during the tenure of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the year 2011.
Another chapter titled ‘Gaurav Gatha’ in class IV, was instead introduced, which contains achievements of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhagat Singh, lala lajpat Rai and lokmanya Tilak to name a few.
Both opposition parties, Congress and INlD had criticized BJP Government’s move to remove the chapter titled ‘Haryana ke Gaurav’.
On the issue of the row between the State Government and private schools over rule 134 A, Ram Bilas Sharma said that talks are on with the private school owners and the issue would be resolved soon.
Replying to a question, the Minister said that private schools in urban areas such as Gurgaon have been directed to mandatorily appoint a woman employee in the school buses, apart from driver and conductor, and to make arrangements to ensure that girl students reach home safely.
The Minister also issued orders to suspend and file a chargesheet against the teacher accused of giving harsh punishment to a girl student in village Nidana, district Jind.
He also said that after the upcoming summer vacation, all officers would be directed to conduct regular inspection of schools in the State.