CBSE Takes Strict Action Against Objectionable Content in Textbooks

Education is a very important aspect of one's life. The overall development of a child depends upon the kind of content he/ she reads in school. Therefore parents and teachers have to be very careful while choosing that what their children read. One single mistake in this context can be very harmful.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) clearly understands this responsibility and has resultantly decided to withdraw the affiliation of such schools which use textbooks with objectionable content. In order to implement the same the CBSE has brought forth a strict clause into its bye laws. This clause warns the schools that they may have to lose their affiliation if they do not choose their textbooks wisely. This new clause has been updated in the amended affiliation bylaws of the CBSE. All schools have to mandatorily follow this rule. The Board has been sending circulars and notifications to the schools time and again regarding such instances of presence of objectionable content in textbooks but the schools have hardly paid any attention to these issues. In the recent times, the CBSE has received a number of complaints regarding objectionable and controversial content in textbooks, resultantly CBSE has requested the schools to be extremely careful and watchful in selecting their text books especially those from the private publication houses. An affiliation bylaw is defined as a rule that each and every school that has an affiliation to CBSE has to follow. In case of any kind of deviation from these rules the schools may have to face very serious consequences. This includes receiving a show cause notice first and at later stages facing disaffiliation. Some of the senior officials of the CBSE Board have reported that this measure is a result of feedback received from public and grievances of the parents and guardians. CBSE bye law clearly states that school should prescribe NCERT textbooks in classes and subjects in which these books have been published by NCERT. If at all the schools wish to teach from books of public private publishers they need to be extremely careful while selecting the textbooks. It is immensely important to make sure that there is absolutely no objectionable content in the textbooks that may hurt the feelings of any class, community, gender or religious group in the society. Indeed such measures are extremely important in the field of education. We all owe this responsibility as parents, teachers and guardians that we make sure that our children do not read or study books that may prove very harmful for their young minds.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://theprint.in/governance/cbse-schools-could-lose-affiliation-if-they-pick-textbooks-with-objectionable-content/140211/