WCD wants religious books in curriculum

Maneka says this will promote greater religious tolerance among students

THE MINISTER has also suggested the CABE to include moral science classes for the students.

New Delhi, March 11: Union minister Maneka Gandhi has suggested the HRD ministry to include books of all religions in the school curriculum as well as provide moral science classes to promote greater religious tolerance among the students.

The child and development minister made the suggestion at the 65th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) recently. It is the highest decision making body in the education sector.

To promote greater tolerance among students belonging to different religions, the minister (Ms Gandhi) suggested moral science classes and religious books of all religions so that students can start appreciating other religions, an official documentation of the meeting read. Odisha’s education minister Badri Naryan Patra, also present at the meeting, suggested modifying the curriculum in a way so as to “endorse the feelings of religious tolerance and patriotism.

Having vegetarian menu for mid-day meals served in schools, saying ‘Jai Hind’ instead of ‘present mam or sir’ during school attendance and remodelling of the NCERT syllabus to ensure value and culture-based education were among the other suggestions made during the meeting.