Decision on textbooks draws flak

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 19. The recent decision of the State Government to withdraw the textbooks prescribed earlier for eighth standard from this academic year onwards has come under severe criticism at the hands of academics and eminent educationists.

Their views were aired at a discussion on `New textbook : Why? For What?' organised here this evening by a committee consisting mainly of those associated with the formulation of the curriculum document during the LDF regime in the State.

There was no justification in deciding to withdraw the textbooks prepared after exhaustive research and thorough scrutiny by experts in the subjects concerned, said Prof. O.N.V. Kurup. Describing the decision as a criminal act, an economic offence, a cultural onslaught and an academic tragedy that had befallen the State, he demanded that a dialogue be initiated on the issue without any further delay.

Taking such a drastic decision which would have far- reaching consequences in the academic sector, without adequately weighing the pros and cons, was similar to carrying out execution without trial, he said. The decision could be more political than academic, he added.

However, Prof. B. Hridayakumari said that the decision to withdraw the textbooks would not necessarily have been a political one. She was of the opinion that the Minister for Education could have been ill-advised or misled into taking such a decision. He would, perhaps, have been given a wrong impression that the newly prepared textbooks ought to be changed. The officials of the department of education were to be blamed for this. The new methodology of teaching had not been given the propaganda that it very well deserved, she added.

There was no doubt that the decision was rash, hasty, thoughtless and unscientific as well as likely to thrust unnecessary financial burden on the already cash-starved Government. Moreover, there was no justification in condemning books prepared for study without any valid reason, she observed.

The teaching community had to take the initiative to ensure that awareness was created on the need to go ahead with the new curriculum which was activity-oriented. Teachers should be prepared to change their approach and attitude in this regard, she suggested. ``The curriculum should be meant for pulling the children forward and not for pushing them in the backward direction,'' she remarked.

It was pointed out at the meeting that around 55 lakhs of textbooks which had already been prepared after painstaking efforts by academic experts would go waste on account of the decision to withdraw them and to replace them with books that had been prescribed some 15 years ago.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Poll promises thrown to the winds: CPI(M)
Next     : CPI(M) suspects TK behind poll report leak