The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) of India will introduce a new educational curriculum for the Indian schools on foreign lands. Students of class VI and VII will now see a whole shift in the content of their social science lessons, that once had glowing examples of the Indian freedom struggle will now be replaced by revolutions in their local countries. CBSE justifies the change by saying that the students abroad are not much interested in India related courses. The history, geography, politics, of their local culture appeals them more than India. The option will also be open for the foreign students in India, who can opt for the new course.
C. Gurumurthy, director, CBSE justified the change saying,
Boredom levels in these foreign schools have been rising. We had to change that situation.
CBSE has established schools on foreign lands especially in West Asia for the children of Indian nationals there. However, the changed curriculum will now see chapters on India replaced by local cultures. Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi will give way to renowned figures of the dancing girls (Geishas) of Japan, monarchs of Saudi Arab and revolutionaries of Iran. The pristine Ganga will now be replaced by oil wealth of West Asia. New ideas on ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka, political problem of Middle East and the market boom in South East Asia supplementing its ethnic diversity will have their place in the newly published textbooks. A glimpse of evolution and progress of civilization in America, Europe and Australia in the curriculum is certain to broaden the knowledge horizon of students.
The effort of the CBSE to include new vistas in the educational curriculum is a welcome idea that will help the students to garner an international outlook and widen their general knowledge base. At the same time, it is imperative that we must not neglect the information related to our own civilization and culture. The books are the ambassadors, who can profess the value particles of our national history, democratic system and tolerant and integrated society amidst vast diversity, which is a glowing example for any nation.
Via: The Telegraph
