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CBSE persuades schools to use only NCERT textbooks
CBSE has circulated notices informing schools to encourage parents to only use NCERT textbooks. Parents however have justifiable reasons to choose external reference books as many times questions in the board papers come from these books.
CBSE has issued a circular asking all affiliated schools to ensure that students are not forced to use books other prescribed by NCERT.
"For students from classes IX to XII the NCERT books are compulsory, while students of junior classes may refer other books as well," said Indore Sahodaya CBSE school complex, chairman, Manoj Bajpai.
This circular has once again shone the highlight on the issue of questions being asked from outside the purview of the NCERT books in the board exams. Many students complained that some of the questions posed in this year’s board exams were from outside NCERT books. "The HRD ministry as well as the CBSE duly and continuously force the students to focus on NCERT books for preparation of examinations. But this time 90% of the mathematics question paper of Ajmer region was not according to NCERT books," stated Shrishti Jain, a class XII student from the city, in a letter to the PM.
Shrishti even wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi after the mathematics paper on March 14 shook the students. "The students are told to study from the NCERT books, especially for the board exams, but on the contrary the question papers do not appear to be based on NCERT books," said Shrishti.
A similar missive was recently fired by CBSE in Nagpur warning schools to desist from forcing students to buy books of private publishers. According to the board, NCERT textbooks are enough for students to prepare for their exams as the entire papers is based on that. But this 'warning' by CBSE is perceived as an empty threat as this warning is not accompanied with the resulting action in case of non-compliance.
Parents have a variety of reasons to look beyond NCERT books. Esther Tudu, a mother says, "NCERT books for Science and Maths are quite self sufficient, but for subjects like English and Social Studies, students require in-depth knowledge about the subject. NCERT needs to benchmark their own books with other publications to know what they're lacking."
Shamana Zubair, a Std IX student’s mother, said, "I tell my kids to go through other reference books when it comes to languages. They have a rich vocabulary and informative grammar learning techniques that sharpen their linguistic skills. However, subjects like Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics should be strictly studied from NCERT textbooks because question papers are set keeping NCERT syllabus in mind."