In a significant educational reform, the Maharashtra government has decided to adopt textbooks from the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for mathematics and science subjects in state board schools, beginning with the next academic year. This decision was finalized in a meeting involving state education officials, school principals, and teacher representatives.
The primary motivation behind this change is the increasing popularity of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools, which are perceived to better prepare students for competitive examinations. CBSE schools have long used NCERT textbooks, and this shift is aimed at bridging the gap between state board and CBSE schools in terms of educational standards and exam preparedness.
The implementation of NCERT textbooks will be phased, starting with classes 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11 in the academic year 2025-26. For subjects like History and Geography, the existing curriculum will remain largely intact, with some additional content from the NCERT-prescribed course.
This transition also involves a shift towards a semi-English mode of education in non-English medium schools, as the NCERT textbooks for mathematics and science will be available only in English. However, Marathi will continue to be a mandatory language subject for all schools up to class 12.
The introduction of NCERT textbooks aligns with the upcoming implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in school education and the finalization of the State Curriculum Framework for School Education (SCF-SE). Despite some criticism, such as the inclusion of a controversial verse from the ancient text Manusmriti in an earlier draft of the SCF-SE, the framework is nearing its final stages.
School administrators and teachers have mixed reactions to this decision. Fr. Flovi Dsouza, principal of Don Bosco School Borivali, highlighted the high demand for CBSE schools and the benefits of NCERT textbooks in preparing students for competitive exams. However, some state board teachers pointed out that the current textbooks had been simplified to help students achieve better scores in board exams, raising concerns about the potential challenges posed by the more rigorous NCERT content.
Veena Donwalkar, principal of Shivaji Vidyalaya, emphasized the need for comprehensive teacher training to ensure a smooth transition to NCERT textbooks. Another CBSE school principal questioned the relevance of adopting NCERT texts now that competitive exams are conducted by the National Testing Agency rather than CBSE.
Historically, there have been previous discussions about introducing NCERT textbooks in state schools. In 2009, such a proposal was considered but ultimately rejected due to concerns that the NCERT books were too challenging for academically weaker students.
Currently, CBSE has made it compulsory for its schools to use NCERT textbooks for classes 9 to 12, starting from the current academic year. Previously, CBSE schools had the option to use either NCERT texts or books from private publishers.
The adoption of NCERT textbooks is part of a broader effort to revamp the educational curriculum in line with the NEP. This move is expected to enhance the quality of education in state board schools and make them more competitive with CBSE schools, ultimately benefiting students in their academic and professional pursuits.