Education
NCERT asked to publish book on physical education, CBSE may stop publishing books
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has requested National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to come up with a book on Physical education which is part of the school curriculum. Till now there is no book published by NCERT or CBSE on physical education.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has requested National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to come up with a book on Physical education which is part of the school curriculum. Till now there is no book published by NCERT or CBSE on physical education.
A Class XII textbook "Health and Physical Education" by a private publisher triggered an uproar last month for defining the perfect female body in the "36-24-36" shape while the revised edition said that the "hourglass shape of females is considered the best". While CBSE clarified that it does not recommend any book, the schools responded by saying that they have to use privately published books as NCERT or CBSE do not publish a book on this subject.
Anil Swarup, the secretary of department of school education and literacy, MHRD took to Twitter and said that action will be taken against the private publisher as the book was neither approved by CBSE nor published by NCERT. CBSE filed an FIR against the publisher – New Saraswati House (Pvt) Ltd. on April 16th and also said that its bye-laws state this clearly – "if a school decides to use a book by a private publisher, it must be scrutinised to preclude any objectionable content. A written declaration must also be put on school website signed by the manager and principal that the responsibility lies on them for suggesting such a book."
According to a CBSE official, "Following the controversy, the board has asked the council for physical education textbooks for its schools."
Recent information has suggested that the HRD Ministry may very soon ask the CBSE to stop printing textbooks after holding a review meeting as NCERT has already been entrusted with the task of working on the curriculum and publication of textbooks.
According to MHRD sources, there have been complaints against the quality of books published by CBSE as well as their availability.
Image courtesy – Tampa Bay Times
Source: Reports on Indian Express, India Today