Standardise quality of textbooks across states
The NCERT’s plan to reduce the focus on rote learning must benefit all students
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is giving final shape to a new school curriculum that will shift the focus from rote learning to experiential learning. This is a welcome move because, in today’s infotech-rich environment, cramming has little utility. The more critical thing is to develop the cognitive abilities of students to help them better discern and analyse what they learn. While NCERT books are mainly used by the Central Board of Secondary Education schools (most state boards use books developed by their own State-run institutions, at least till Class 8), any positive step taken by the body percolates to the state boards too, and private publishers are also known to quickly fall in line.
Having said that, there are some states where the quality of textbooks is poor. But in a country such as India, which has large class sizes, a high proportion of unqualified teachers and a shortage of instruction time, it becomes critical to ensure that textbooks adhere to a certain standard of quality. But this does not happen because states cut corners when it comes to spending on things that impact the quality of textbooks: good authors and publishers, and a strong peer-review system.
If the quality of textbooks is so uneven across states , what can be done to ensure that students don’t bear the brunt of such institutional failure? One way would be to use technology to make the content richer and interesting, and find a way to reach the improved content to students. Several states are now using Edusat to beam improved content to their schools, and using mobiles to help students connect with teachers who deliver these additional classes from studios in cities. It is true that even this format often fails to deliver. But states must not shy away from opting for such out-of-the-box solutions when existing mechanisms to deliver quality content are facing so many challenges.