Kerala SCERT to publish textbooks with portions excluded by Centre; Book release by CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala SCERT textbooks, including portions like evolution studies, Gandhi’s assassination and Mughal histor,y that were cut by the Central government, are ready and set to be released soon.

These special textbooks will reach higher secondary students by early September. Eight books have been prepared for the instructional purposes of the first and second year higher secondary students. However, it has not yet been decided whether these textbooks will be printed and distributed.

If not printed, the books will be made available online for schools. SCERT authorities have clarified that questions from these portions will be asked in examinations. 

Since these books with science and history topics that were excluded by the central government also contain a veiled political attack at the centre, preparations are being made to plan a special book release ceremony with the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

These special textbooks of Political Science, Economics, History and Sociology contain portions that were cut by the central policy makers. Meanwhile, teachers have voiced their displeasure of having to teach portions in a non-linear manner as the textbook publishing was delayed.

Teachers organizations including KHSTU opine that learning without chronology is challenging for students and many of the ‘missing’ chapters can only be taught once the new books are made available.