Source: Hindustan Times
The Union government has asked schools to take responsibility for the textbooks they prescribe to students -- other than those approved by the national or state councils (NCERT or SCERTs) -- and told them to put up a list of books on their website or notice boards, declaring that their content has been “thoroughly checked”.
The schools must follow a “whole school safety approach” covering all aspects of the school community and can impact holistic development, the guidelines said, listing including pedagogy, syllabi, textbooks, and assessments as part of the factors that affect the students’ growth.
To this end, the guidelines said that schools, both private and public, should take extra caution while prescribing books other than those that are recommended by the NCERT, SCERTs, or the concerned education boards. “It is the responsibility of principals/school heads and teachers to carefully analyze syllabus and textbooks selected by the school. It should not promote any kind of discrimination based on caste, class, religion, gender, ethnicity, or language,” the guidelines added.
“It should promote sensitivity towards environmental protection, gender parity, inclusion, and ethical behaviour, etc. Promote healthy habits of eating, cleanliness, and sanitation, reading, working together, helping each other, and collaboration in place of competition, etc.,” they said.
The schools have been asked to put up a list of prescribed books on its website and notice board, along with a declaration “to the effect that the school owns the responsibility of having thoroughly checked and having gone through the content of the books”.Also read: Union Minister Praises UP Government for Implementing National Education Policy
