Mumbai: Schools demand more time to review massive education draft

As per new draft, students will no longer have English as a compulsory subject for Stds XI and XII

Nineteen organisations representing school management, teachers, principals, and other stakeholders have written to the State Education Department, demanding an extension of the deadline for submitting suggestions and objections on the newly framed draft proposal of the State Curriculum Framework. The deadline for sending the feedback is June 3; however, the organisations have sought time until June 30.

In a letter dated May 26, jointly addressed to the State Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar and the director of the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training, it was stated that the draft proposal is over 300 pages and will need some time for stakeholders to go through it closely and give
their feedback.

Sushil Shejule, coordinator of Marathi Shala Sansthachalak Sangh (one of the organisations in the list), said, "The draft proposal is a huge document of close to 326 pages. To go through it, and understand the changes and new additions, we need to thoroughly discuss it among the academicians. The time given until June 3 is very short, hence we have sought an extension until June 30."

The draft proposal of the Maharashtra State Curriculum Framework (SCF), advocates the inclusion of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) in the school education system across the state aligned with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and suggests incorporating teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Samarth Ramdas Swami's Manache Shlok for effective memorisation through recitation competitions for students.

The section on "value education and disposition" from the SCF, which focuses on character-building for schoolchildren, begins with a Sanskrit verse on respecting elders taken from Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text describing the social system. However, this choice has sparked a debate regarding the intention behind referencing Manusmriti in the draft. The draft also proposes that the learning of trigonometry could include the contributions of Bhaskaracharya, an understanding of medical science innovations from ancient India by Rishi Sushrut or Charak, the importance of Yoga, knowledge about ancient technology in India, and insights into Vedic practices when introducing modern astronomy. Additionally, the draft suggests understanding the ancient practice of "Guru-Shishya" (teacher-disciple) relationships to improve student-teacher dynamics.

Meanwhile, English has been a mandatory subject from Class I to Class XII. However, according to the proposed draft released by the Maharashtra State Council for Educational Research and Training's (SCERT) SCF on Wednesday, starting from the new academic year, students will no longer have
English as a compulsory subject for Class XI and XII. Instead, they can choose two languages: one Indian and one international/foreign language (with English becoming optional), the SCF draft proposal suggests.

Shejule added: "There are many changes, some of which are good, but many need deliberation and discussions among teachers and parent groups. These will be the topics taught to our students in the future. Many things that were previously taught are being removed. Hence, we need to carefully go through the draft."

19
No. of organisations that have written to the education dept.