The NCPCR has reached out to all principal secretaries and secretaries of school education throughout India, urging them to ensure consistency in syllabi, textbooks, and evaluation methods across all schools covered by the Right To Education Act.
In its communication, the apex child rights body highlights the significance of complying with Section 29 of the RTE Act, 2009, which specifically delineates the curriculum and evaluation procedures for elementary education.
The recommendations, outlined in a letter dated April 9, stress the imperative of enforcing curriculum guidelines set forth by academic authorities, notably the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) at the central level and respective State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) at the state level.
This directive aims to establish uniformity in syllabi, textbooks, and evaluation methods across all schools, including Central schools and institutions affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), that fall under the purview of the Act.
Expressing apprehension over instances of certain schools prescribing textbooks from private publishers—a practice deemed incongruous with children's entitlement to quality education under the RTE Act—the NCPCR underscores the importance of upholding Section 29 (1) of the Act, which designates academic authorities for curriculum specification.
The implementation of the RTE Act's curriculum standards is expected to yield several advantages for students and families nationwide. These include uniformity in educational content across all RTE-compliant institutions, cost reduction in education by limiting prescribed materials to those approved by NCERT/SCERT, and alleviation of physical strain on students through lighter school bags achieved by adhering strictly to designated textbooks.
