Last Update: May 30, 2023, 23:53 IST
File photo of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (Image: PTI)
The meeting comes a week after educationists and school associations appealed to Siddaramaiah to drop some portions from the syllabus prepared by the previous BJP-led government and bring back the old syllabus in the syllabus for the coming academic year.
As the discussion about textbook syllabus changes continues in Karnataka, a delegation of over 40 litterateurs met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to demand scrapping of the National Education Policy (NEP) and bringing in a new state education policy.
A delegation of writers and thinkers under the banner of ‘Samanvaya Manasakara Okkoota’ met Siddaramaiah with various demands regarding the education system, including a promise to scrap NEP in the state, which the Congress has made in its manifesto for the 2023 Karnataka elections. I had promised
The meeting comes a week after educationists and school associations appealed to Siddaramaiah to drop parts of the syllabus prepared by the previous BJP-led government and bring back the old syllabus in the syllabus for the coming academic year.
The litterateurs demanded the Congress-led government to immediately form a committee if the old syllabus prepared by the Baragur Ramchandra committee was not brought back. Besides this, the delegation also demanded cancellation of NEET medical entrance exam in Karnataka and revised the dress code in educational institutions following the hijab controversy.
‘Will not allow any text that poisons the minds of children’
After discussing the curriculum changes and various aspects related to the education system, Siddaramaiah assured that the newly formed state government would discuss and take action so that the education of children is not disrupted.
Adulteration will not be allowed in the education sector in the name of new education policy. In this regard, a separate meeting will be convened once again and strict and definite decisions will be taken after extensive discussion on it. The act of polluting the minds of children through texts and lessons cannot be forgiven. As the academic year has begun, we will discuss and take action so that children’s education is not disrupted,” he was quoted as saying in a press statement.
When asked about the syllabus revision work, state primary education minister Madhu Bangarappa said, “We had mentioned this in our election manifesto as well. We will review the existing syllabus and sit and discuss about it. The process will be completed in the next one week. Writers and thinkers met the Chief Minister and discussed with him. The revision of the syllabus will be done by next week.”
A major controversy had erupted in Karnataka during the BJP regime after RSS chief Keshav Balira Hedgewar’s speech was included in the revised Class 10 Kannada textbook. Texts by various prominent Kannada writers like P Lankesh, AN Rao and Sara were also removed from the syllabus. Aboobacker which received response from many writers and thinkers.
Opposing the BJP’s move, the Congress extended its support to writers and thinkers who then protested. At a massive rally on June 18, 2022 by various thinkers, writers, seers and activists, Congress leader DK Shivakumar tore apart the revised syllabus by the BJP government and assured to stand with them in their protest.
