The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an autonomous body under the union government that focuses on child rights, has recently written to all states urging them to ensure that schools strictly adhere to the curriculum and textbooks prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
In a letter dated April 13, addressed to all state education secretaries, the NCPCR reminded them of the legal requirement under section 29(1) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which mandates that schools follow the curriculum and evaluation procedures laid down by the notified academic authority, namely NCERT and SCERT.
NCERT is an autonomous body under the Education Ministry that provides advice to the union government on school education and assessment. Similarly, each state has its own SCERT, which serves as the apex body for academic matters in that state.
The NCPCR’s letter gains significance as it comes in the wake of the recent release of new NCERT textbooks with rationalized content. These textbooks have removed portions related to Mughals, Mahatma Gandhi, Nathuram Godse (Gandhi’s assassin), references to Hindu extremists, and the 2002 Gujarat riots as part of the rationalization exercise. These changes have sparked strong reactions from political parties and academicians alike. Therefore, the NCPCR’s directive to follow the prescribed curriculum and textbooks gains importance in ensuring that schools adhere to the approved academic content in line with the RTE Act.
