NCERT advocates inclusion of Ramayana and Mahabharata in school textbooks

A high-level committee appointed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to revamp the school curriculum for social sciences has suggested the inclusion of epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata in textbooks. Additionally, the committee proposes writing the Preamble of the Constitution on classroom walls. The seven-member committee, formed last year, has submitted its final position paper on social sciences, laying the foundation for the development of new NCERT textbooks.

The recommendations of this committee are expected to be considered by the 19-member National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC), mandated to finalize the curriculum, textbooks, and learning material for various classes. The NSTC has recently established a Curricular Area Group (CAG) for Social Science to develop syllabi and teaching-learning materials for the subject.

Chairperson CI Issac highlighted the significance of teaching epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata to students in classes 7 to 12. The committee believes that exposure to these epics helps students build self-esteem, patriotism, and pride in their nation. Issac stressed the importance of instilling love for one's country and culture, aiming to address the lack of patriotism among some students.

The NCERT is revising the school curriculum in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The new NCERT textbooks, incorporating these recommendations, are expected to be ready for the next academic session.