CBSE asks schools to stick to NCERT textbooks

KOCHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education  has warned schools against coercing parents to buy textbooks of private publishers and  asked them  to stick to books published by the NCERT.

In a letter sent to the school principals, CBSE joint secretary in charge of academics and training D.T. Sudharsan Rao  told the teachers not to prescribe too many textbooks for  students.  

The CBSE had received reports and complaints that several schools were exerting pressure on children and parents to buy an excessive number of textbooks predominantly published by publishers other than the NCERT.

“This is a matter of grave concern as prescribing too many textbooks and coercing parents and teachers to buy them is an unhealthy practice that is educationally unsound.    The NCERT textual materials are the base for preparing test items in the board examination and the question paper of CBSE is set according to the prescribed syllabus of the subject,” said Sudharsan Rao.

He pointed out that the committee under the chairmanship of Professor Yashpal had also made several recommendations to reduce the curricular burden  on children in its report entitled 'Learning Without Burden.'  

The National Curriculum Framework, 2005, had also called for several curricular and systemic reforms to make children's life at school enjoyable.

One of these reforms pertained to reduction in the number textbooks for different classes.

He said schools had  also been found prescribing textbooks that are costly and unscientifically designed.  

“This practice of the schools is jeopardizing the proper teaching- learning activities of the schools and imposing pressure on students. It is, therefore, reiterated that parents should not be coerced to buy additional textbooks by the school authorities,” the letter said.