22 July,2016 09:31 AM IST | | Pallavi Smart
The BJP-run state government is all set to redefine the curriculum of history at the school level. Various economic, social and political events of significance in the era post-independence will be added to the syllabus, which according to this government, has not gone beyond the dates of a few wars, etc
The BJP-run state government is all set to redefine the curriculum of history at the school level. Various economic, social and political events of significance in the era post-independence will be added to the syllabus, which according to this government, has not gone beyond the dates of a few wars, etc.
Vinod Tawde
The state school education minister, Vinod Tawde, made an announcement to this effect in the ongoing Monsoon session of the state legislature. Suggestions and inputs have been invited from education and subject experts, on how to redesign the subject taught at school level. The minister however has categorically specified in his speech that this should not be linked with saffronisation.
Tawde said, "Until now, for years, history is taught in a typically structured manner, where topics have not gone beyond the independence struggle of the country. We are still teaching children history of wars fought with swords, and several dates of births, deaths of significant personalities and wars. After independence, till now, there have been so many events of great significance in economic, political and social sectors of this country. It is a new history with newer developments that took place in this era. These need to be taught to children in history."
"We are working on how to include newer events in curriculum of history. This is why we have called for suggestions from education experts to redesign the history curriculum. But nobody should misunderstand it as the history curriculum is being saffronised," said Tawde. Several points however, remain unclear following the minister's announcement, like which events in particular are being referred to. Speaking about few other initiatives, the minister spoke about beginning health education classes to avoid increasing cases of sexual assaults on children. He also said the safety of school children is of utmost importance to the government. Grants will be allotted to schools in rural areas for installation of CCTVs.
