Karnataka: Disbanding committee is eyewash, restore old books, say activists and writers | Bangalore News
BENGALURU: Activists, educators, writers and students, who have opposed the revised textbooks, on Saturday called the process of disbanding the Rohith Chakrathirtha committee “eyewash” and backed their demand for the restoration of old textbooks.
They pointed out that the government was trying to address the concerns of only two groups – the Lingayat and Vokkaliga seers – while the points raised by the rest of the sections were ignored.
“This is unacceptable. As we examine the texts carefully, other problems appear. The result of an undemocratic and non-transparent process are distortions of history and of the castist and misogynistic texts. After the removal of all revision, old textbooks should be published,” said Bahutva Karnataka, a group.
Writer G Ramakrishna said he was unhappy with the statement issued by the chief minister as it did not address the real issues. “The quality of the textbooks will remain the same. The department now has the challenge of asking students to delete and add content because they cannot reprint. The problem started with the constitution of the committee which did not include women or teachers , but people with questionable qualifications,” he said.
Vice President of Education Niranjanaradhya said the review process was not transparent and violated natural justice. “The CM’s statement is a complete insult to the grassroots movement that seeks transparency in the process. Not only should the old textbooks be reinstated, but the government should assemble a team of independent historians who have no bias and ask them to check the books. ,” he said.
Dr Shashi Kumar, Secretary of the Karnataka Primary and Secondary School Managers Association (KAMS), said: “…Textbook analysis conducted by NCERT in 2017 found that Karnataka textbooks were inferior to the standards. The new review does not appear to have considered all of NCERT’s recommendations. Our children are once again getting bad books. This government has once again failed its children,” he added.
The All India Students Association (AISA) believed that the saffronization of education is linked to the new national education policy, which aims to “make education exclusive, unaffordable and preaches Manuwadi ideology”.
“The CM did not specify who will review the proposed changes and for what academic year the changes will come into effect. The disbanding of the committee appears simply to have been done to appease and mislead people who had raised serious concerns about saffronization. of education, textbooks containing lies and false claims to peddle some curricula have already been printed and distributed,” said AISA State Officer Kishan Devaiah.
State Secretary of the Student Federation of India (SFI), Vasudev Reddy, echoing Devaiah’s view that disbanding the committee would not solve the review issues, said he was of anyway supposed to be dissolved after completion of the review. “They have achieved the goal and fulfilled their commitment. Friday’s breakup action is only meant to confuse people’s minds. This is not a personal fight with Rohith Chakrathirtha,” said Reddy.
‘Will continue the protests’
India’s Democratic Student Organization (AIDSO) said it would continue the protests until the government answers basic questions the students had asked about the changes.
AIDSO office secretary Sithara HM said, “Firstly, the government response has come only because of the movement that has erupted across the state from many different sections of society. many unanswered questions: What controversial aspect will be reviewed? Which committee will lead the review? Until the review is complete, what curriculum will students study? Which great man’s story has been twisted and will be t rectified? The student community and the people of Karnataka must be vigilant and be ready to protect the glorious history of struggle in our country.”
A common demand from student forums was that the government drop revision and return to old textbooks. Apart from this, some of them demanded the revision of II PU manuals.
They pointed out that the government was trying to address the concerns of only two groups – the Lingayat and Vokkaliga seers – while the points raised by the rest of the sections were ignored.
“This is unacceptable. As we examine the texts carefully, other problems appear. The result of an undemocratic and non-transparent process are distortions of history and of the castist and misogynistic texts. After the removal of all revision, old textbooks should be published,” said Bahutva Karnataka, a group.
Writer G Ramakrishna said he was unhappy with the statement issued by the chief minister as it did not address the real issues. “The quality of the textbooks will remain the same. The department now has the challenge of asking students to delete and add content because they cannot reprint. The problem started with the constitution of the committee which did not include women or teachers , but people with questionable qualifications,” he said.
Vice President of Education Niranjanaradhya said the review process was not transparent and violated natural justice. “The CM’s statement is a complete insult to the grassroots movement that seeks transparency in the process. Not only should the old textbooks be reinstated, but the government should assemble a team of independent historians who have no bias and ask them to check the books. ,” he said.
Dr Shashi Kumar, Secretary of the Karnataka Primary and Secondary School Managers Association (KAMS), said: “…Textbook analysis conducted by NCERT in 2017 found that Karnataka textbooks were inferior to the standards. The new review does not appear to have considered all of NCERT’s recommendations. Our children are once again getting bad books. This government has once again failed its children,” he added.
The All India Students Association (AISA) believed that the saffronization of education is linked to the new national education policy, which aims to “make education exclusive, unaffordable and preaches Manuwadi ideology”.
“The CM did not specify who will review the proposed changes and for what academic year the changes will come into effect. The disbanding of the committee appears simply to have been done to appease and mislead people who had raised serious concerns about saffronization. of education, textbooks containing lies and false claims to peddle some curricula have already been printed and distributed,” said AISA State Officer Kishan Devaiah.
State Secretary of the Student Federation of India (SFI), Vasudev Reddy, echoing Devaiah’s view that disbanding the committee would not solve the review issues, said he was of anyway supposed to be dissolved after completion of the review. “They have achieved the goal and fulfilled their commitment. Friday’s breakup action is only meant to confuse people’s minds. This is not a personal fight with Rohith Chakrathirtha,” said Reddy.
‘Will continue the protests’
India’s Democratic Student Organization (AIDSO) said it would continue the protests until the government answers basic questions the students had asked about the changes.
AIDSO office secretary Sithara HM said, “Firstly, the government response has come only because of the movement that has erupted across the state from many different sections of society. many unanswered questions: What controversial aspect will be reviewed? Which committee will lead the review? Until the review is complete, what curriculum will students study? Which great man’s story has been twisted and will be t rectified? The student community and the people of Karnataka must be vigilant and be ready to protect the glorious history of struggle in our country.”
A common demand from student forums was that the government drop revision and return to old textbooks. Apart from this, some of them demanded the revision of II PU manuals.