NCERT Revamps Class 11, 12 Textbook Team With RSS-Linked Members

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reconstituted the Textbook Development Team for Class 11 and 12 political science. The new team has at least four members with direct or indirect links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The team is headed by academic and political analyst Sandeep Shastri, Vice President of Karnataka-based deemed university Nitte. The team has been tasked with preparing the Class 11 textbook by November and the Class 12 book by July next year.

Among the members with RSS links is Yadunath Deshpande, a senior consultant with the Ministry of Education, who has previously held organisational posts in the ABVP. Prashant Divekar has a longstanding association with Pune-based Jnana Prabodhini, an RSS-affiliated institution. Vandana Mishra, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for Political Studies, is a former national secretary of the ABVP. Ravi Rameshchandra Shukla, Associate Professor at JNU’s Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, has served on the editorial board of the Indian Journal of Democratic Governance, published by an RSS affiliate.

The team also includes academics from several institutions, including JNU, National Law University, Chanakya University, and Delhi University. The new textbooks will seek to integrate themes such as cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, inclusion, educational technology, and assessment.

The reconstitution of the textbook team has raised concerns among some academics and educators, who fear that the new team may introduce a biased or ideologically driven curriculum. However, the NCERT has stated that the new team will ensure that the textbooks are developed in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework.

The NCERT is responsible for developing and implementing the national curriculum for schools in India. The reconstitution of the textbook team is part of a larger effort to revamp the education system in the country. The new team will play a crucial role in shaping the curriculum for Class 11 and 12 students, and its decisions will have a significant impact on the education sector.

The introduction of the new textbooks is expected to be completed by next year. The NCERT has stated that the new textbooks will be developed in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework, which emphasizes the importance of cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems, and inclusion.

The reconstitution of the textbook team has sparked a debate among academics and educators, with some welcoming the changes and others expressing concerns about the potential for bias or ideological influence. As the new team begins its work, it will be closely watched by educators, academics, and policymakers across the country.

The significance of this development lies in its potential impact on the education system in India. The new textbooks will shape the curriculum for Class 11 and 12 students, and will influence the way that political science is taught in schools across the country. As such, it is essential that the new team ensures that the textbooks are developed in a fair, balanced, and unbiased manner.

In conclusion, the reconstitution of the NCERT textbook team for Class 11 and 12 political science is a significant development that will have a major impact on the education system in India. The new team, which includes members with links to the RSS, ABVP, and BJP, will play a crucial role in shaping the curriculum for students across the country. As the team begins its work, it will be closely watched by educators, academics, and policymakers, who will be eager to see how the new textbooks are developed and implemented.