Geography may soon become history in Maharashtra schools

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History, Civics, Economics, Political Science and Geography may not be compulsory subjects at the school level in Maharashtra in the near future.

In a bid to participate in the ambitious initiative of the BJP-run government of making India skilled, the Maharashtra education department has decided that social science subjects at school levels can be optional, and is offering vocational education as an alternative. The decision has met with strong and adverse reactions from the education sector, with questions being raised on how the young generation would get to know about history, culture and other aspects of society in such a scenario.

A regulation has also been introduced to make Mathematics and English optional at school levels. The decision, in its current form, will be applicable to only rural schools, in an attempt to help youngsters from rural areas learn some skills. The same will be gradually applied to schools in urban areas too.

"The rate at which the state's education minister is offering options in subjects to students at school level, we soon might need an option to the existing education minister," said a bemused Uday Nare, spokesperson for Shikshak Bharati.

He further explained, "All subjects taught at school levels are of basic knowledge to all individuals. How can we afford to have a generation who will not know history and culture of the country, social responsibilities and rights taught under civics, different regions explained under geography?"

Criticising the new move by the state's education department, Pralhad Jogdand, former dean of the faculty of Arts at the Mumbai University, said, "Social sciences are a set of subjects which teach children how society functions, its rich culture, geographical conditions and all such aspects, which help one understand the society he/she lives in. This, in turn, will give us responsible citizens. It is at the school level when children are introduced to these subjects, and from there then they can take these for further studies. Providing an option for it is a dangerous move for the coming future."