The cover of the book, ‘North East India - People, History and Culture,’ a supplementary reader published by the NCERT to ‘create and enhance awareness about north-eastern states of India among young students.’ (Morung Photo/Screenshot)
New textbooks with special focus on ‘Knowledge of India’ being developed
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 7
There is adequate space with regard to contents on North East (NE) States in its publications at present, the NCERT has stated on June 5, a day after several students unions, organisations and individuals created a “Twitter Storm” demanding among others, a mandatory chapter on the Northeast in NCERT textbooks.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Government of India to “assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.”
The NCERT took to its official account on micro-blogging site Twitter to respond to the unfolding issue in a series of tweets under the heading “Depiction of North East in NCERT’s Publication” on the evening of June 5.
A book on ‘North East India - People, History and Culture’ has been brought out in 2016, it informed, stating that the objective of the supplementary reader is to create and enhance awareness about north-eastern states of India among young students, particularly those living in other parts of the country.
“Besides, the Social Science Textbooks of NCERT for Classes VI, VII, X and XII have interwoven contents related to North East in different form,” it said.
“At present, contents with regard to North Eastern states finds adequate space in NCERT's publications for its use by students & teachers, (sic)” it asserted.
Meanwhile, the Council further pointed out that process of new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has already been initiated in the light of the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“New textbooks will be developed based on the principles and recommendations of NEP-2020 & NCF thereafter with special focus on 'Knowledge of India,” it added.
On June 4, with the hashtag #NortheastMatters #AchapterforNE, students as well as others initiated the ‘Twitter Strom’ from 6-8PM as a “united stand against racism” and create awareness about the region as a measure to eradicate the same.
Among others, they demanded a mandatory chapter on the NE in NCERT textbooks, and argued that the supplementary text book on the region for students from Class 9 to 12 has not made much impact.
An inclusion of mandatory chapter is seen as a medium to bridge the gap.
Students’ bodies from four campuses of Nagaland University as well as individuals from the state also joined the ‘Twitter Storm.’
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