Only NCERT Books Should be Mandatory in Schools

In the session starting from April, 2018, Uttarakhand Government has given a notification to make NCERT books mandatory not only in CBSE-affiliated government schools but even in private schools in a bid to provide books to students at cheaper prices. The move was only made after when it came to the knowledge of the Government about the nexus between the book publishers and private schools in order to earn a hefty amount by selling high prices books published by private book publishers and sharing the revenue for the same. The brawl over the NCERT books started soon after a blunder over rising of tuition fees of MBBS students studying in private medical colleges in the state of Uttarakhand.

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had abounded upon the private medical colleges to withdraw the hike in their fee structure, after a nod of pressure from students and parents.  State of Uttarakhand has a variety of public schools that draw students from different parts of the country which includes a large number of such schools which are affiliated to CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations). The government’s order on mandatory NCERT books is not applicable to them at its very inception. The education minister Sh. Arvind Pandey had earlier said NCERT books would be introduced in CISCE-affiliated schools after CBSE ones comply with the orders successfully. In a written order on 16^th August 2018, Director General (education), Alok Shekhar Tiwari said that CBSE or other boards will be asked to cancel the license of the schools which are not complying with the orders to use NCERT books and still using the books of private publishers which are highly priced. “If any school is found to be using books from private publishers or help books whose prices are higher than NCERT books then their license will be cancelled”. Which would further attract the Contempt of Court charges against such private schools & under section 188 of Indian Penal Code,1860 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).                                                                                                                              

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/schools-using-non-ncert- books-to-lose-licence/articleshow/65430464.cms?UTM_Source=Google_Newsstand&UTM_Campaign=RSS_Feed&UTM_Medium=Referral