Lok Sabha Question No. 435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-22
Subject: Compulsory Subjects in Schools and Madarsas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 435**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015

**Compulsory Subjects in Schools and Madarsas**

†435. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to frame rules to make the optional subjects like English, Mathematics, Science etc. compulsory in the curriculums of all the Government aided schools and also in madarsas in the country;

(b) if so, the status thereof and time by which these subjects are likely to be made compulsory and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government also proposes to take action against said schools which do not teach these subjects; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (d) Mathematics and Science are compulsory for classes IX-X in all the schools including Govt-aided schools, affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Hindi or English is one of the compulsory languages for classes IX-X. However, in classes XI-XII, English, Mathematics and Science are optional in the schools affiliated to CBSE. Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madarsas (SPQEM) provides financial assistance to traditional institutions like Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Hindi and English in their curriculum for classes I-XII.

*******

The Kothari Commission (1964-66) and the National Policy on Education, 1986 have recommended general education like Science, Mathematics, Social Sciences and Languages from primary to secondary stage compulsory for all, in the curriculum of all the Government aided schoolsThe National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed the core syllabi in Science and Mathematics for higher secondary stage and also the supplementary material involving Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),  Council of the Boards of School Education  in India (COBSE) and various stakeholders. Core syllabus in Economics and Commerce has also been developed for the higher secondary stage. The COBSE has prepared Common Syllabus for the subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics for classes XI-XII to implement from 2011-12 session. COBSE also developed common syllabus in the subjects of Business Studies, Accountancy and Economics finalized in collaboration with the NCERT in 2012 to implement with effect from 2012-13 session in Class XI with a freedom for 5 to 10% change in contents as per requirement by State/Board/Council concerned.

The CBSE has implemented the syllabus developed by COBSE after slight adaptation in for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology from 2011-12 and for Business Studies, Accountancy and Economics from 2012-13 in class XI in the schools affiliated to it.

NCERT has no specific information.

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF)- 2005 developed by the NCERT as per the mandate of the National Policy on Education 1986 sets the guidelines and direction for syllabi and textbooks at all the school stage.

The National Curriculum Framework -2005 has been brought out through a wide-ranging consultations and deliberations across the country. The salient features of the National Curriculum Framework – 2005 formulated through such deliberations and approved by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) are grounded on the following five guiding principles:

1. Connecting knowledge to life outside the school,
2. Ensuring that learning is shifted away from rote methods,
3. Enriching the curriculum to provide for overall development of children rather than remain    textbook centric,
4. Making examinations more flexible and integrated into classroom life and,
5. Nurturing an overriding identity informed by caring concerns within the democratic polity of the country.

The NCF focuses on the child as an active learner, thus giving primacy to children’s experiences, their voices and their participation. It therefore calls for adults to change their perception of children as passive receiver of knowledge. It views children as active participants in the construction of knowledge, and states that schools should recognize the innate ability and creativity of each child to construct his/her own knowledge. It emphasizes that gender, caste, class, religion and minority status should not constrain participation in experiences provided in school. It emphasizes on education for peace across the subject areas and stages.  Education for peace encompasses concerns related to moral education, character building and patriotism.

It recommends the softening of subject boundaries so that children can get a taste of integrated knowledge and joy of understanding. It reaffirms faith in Panchayti Raj institutions to enable people to think, decide and act in their collective interest, to provide greater participation of people in development. It also suggests reforms in teacher education and examination system in tune with the reflected curricular vision.

Based on NCF - 2005, NCERT formulated model syllabi and textbooks on school subjects across different stages of schooling. Schools whether private or government, are affiliated to either Central Board or State Boards. The Boards or/and SCERTs either adapt or adopt the syllabi and textbooks prepared by the NCERT to suit the State specific concerns and needs.

Given the geographical, cultural and linguistic diversity in our country, generally, from class I to VIII, different types of schools in States/UTs follow syllabi and textbooks developed by State agencies as per their state specific needs in consonance with the perspectives of the National Curriculum Framework.

For secondary and higher secondary stage different types of schools follow syllabi and textbooks prepared by States Board of School Education or Central Board of Secondary Education or other Boards.  Central Board of Secondary Education also adopts NCERT’s syllabi and prescribes NCERT’s textbooks for schools affiliated to this Board. States/UTs are free to either adopt or adapt NCERT’s syllabi and textbooks or develop their own syllabi and textbooks as per the States’ specific needs for their schools whether private or Government.

Further, NCERT has developed the core syllabi in science and mathematics for higher secondary stage and also the supplementary material involving CBSE, COBSE and various other stakeholders. This core syllabus has been approved by the National Monitoring Committee in February, 2011. Now, the states are in the process of implementing core syllabus in Science and Mathematics at higher secondary stage **.** Core syllabus in Economics and Commerce has also been developed for the higher secondary stage.

**Status of State syllabi and textbooks at all the school stages in the light of NCF-2005**

| **Curriculum Revision**                                                                                                            | **I-V (Primary)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | **VI-VIII**  **(Upper Primary)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | **IX-X**  **(Secondary)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **XI-XII**  **(Higher Secondary)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Syllabus Revision Completed                                                                                                        | (21 States)  Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala  **(and   neighbouring  UT)**  ,  Orissa, Bihar,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya,  Tamil Nadu  **(and   neighbouring   UT)**  , Punjab,  Assam,  Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, J&K, Gujarat  **(two   neighbouring   UTs)** | (17 States)  Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala  **(and   neighbouring UT)**  ,  Orissa, Bihar, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu  **(and   neighbouring   UT)**  ,  Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal,  Madhya Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  J & K,  Gujarat  **(two neighbouring UTs)** | (14 States)  Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Orissa,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya,  Tamil Nadu  **(and   neighbouring   UT)**  ,   Chhattisgarh,  Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,  West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh                                                                                      | (11 States)  Karnataka,  Orissa,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu  **(and   neighbouring   UT)**  ,  Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                 |
| Textbook development completed                                                                                                     | (16 States)  Kerala,  Bihar,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya,  Tamil Nadu,  Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand,  Haryana, J & K,  Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh,  Madhya Pradesh  Gujarat                                                                                                                                                    | (14 States)  Kerala,  Bihar,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya,  Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,  J &K, Punjab,  Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat                                                                                                                                              | (12 States)  Kerala,  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland,  Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,  Chhattisgarh,  Punjab,  J & K,  Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                    | (10 States)  Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya & Tamil Nadu, Punjab,  J & K, Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Implemented  Syllabi and Textbooks  of NCERT with copyright permission  *marked states/UTs directly purchase the NCERT’s textbooks | (6 States/UTs)  Delhi,  Chandigarh*,  Arunachal Pradesh*, Jharkhand, Sikkim,  Andaman  and  Nicobar*, Assam,  Goa,  Punjab, (Mathematics and Science)  Tripura is in the process                                                                                                                                                                            | (11 States/UTs)  Delhi,  Rajasthan,  Haryana, Chandigarh*, Arunachal Pradesh*, Sikkim,  Himachal Pradesh,  Goa, Andaman & Nicobar* Island, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Assam, Punjab (Mathematics and Science)  Tripura is in the process                                                                     | (13 States/UTs)  Delhi,  Haryana,  Goa (except History), Uttarakhand, Chandigarh*, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh*, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep* ,  J & K, Punjab (Mathematics and Science) and Assam  Tripura & Gujarat  **(two  neighbouring  UTs)** | (16 States/UTs)  Delhi, Haryana, Goa  **,**  Uttarakhand, Chandigarh*, Rajasthan,  Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar , Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh*, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Island*, Lakshadweep*, Kerala, Maharashtra and Assam  Gujarat  **(two  neighbouring   UTs)**  ,  Tripura and West Bengal |

**State Curriculum Framework was developed by 9 (nine) states:-**

Bihar, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Punjab