The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all the schools to refrain from prescribing books other than National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) to students.
In the circular the Central board has expressed grave concern on the reports and complaints regarding the pressure exercised in several schools on children and their parents to buy an excessive number of textbooks predominately of publishers other than NCERT.
The letter states that National Curriculum Framework, 2005 has called for several curricular and systemic reforms to make children’s life at school enjoyable and one of these reforms pertains to reduction in the number textbooks for different classes.
The letter written by Joint Secretary and in charge (A&T) DT Sudarshan Rao clearly states that the parents should not be coerced to buy textbooks other than NCERT.
Many private school owners in collusion with some publishing houses prescribe books which are not required. These books apart from being costly are not designed scientifically. All the schools affiliated to CBSE should strictly follow syllabi prescribed by the NCERT up to the Middle class level (Class VIII) and the syllabi prescribed by the CBSE from Class IX to XII.
Appreciating the decision the Vice Principal of Doon International School (DIS), Dinesh Barthwal said that the NCERT books are best in content and designed scientifically. He claimed that his school strictly adheres to NCERT books from class VIII onwards.
The President of All Uttarakhand Parents Association Neeraj Singhal said that the decision of CBSE is a welcome sign. He demanded that to ensure similar teaching standards all the schools irrespective of board affiliations should strictly recommend NCERT books only. Singhal said that NCERT too should ensure that it prints sufficient number of textbooks so that they are readily available.