Curriculum and textbook revision for Classes I to XII in Kerala nearing completion

The process of curriculum and textbook revision for Classes I to XII is nearing completion in the State, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty said here on Tuesday.

Since 2022, the Union government has been attempting to push its own policies through the National Education Policy (NEP) during curriculum revisions. However, all academic changes introduced by the State will strictly follow the Kerala Curriculum Framework formulated independently by the State, he said.

All 597 textbook titles being prepared for Classes I to X and the 39 revised textbooks for Class XI being brought out this year will follow the Kerala Curriculum framework.

Kerala will academically resist all attempts by the Centre to force the NEP and unilaterally impose curriculum changes. The textbooks being prepared by the State will reflect the its long-standing priorities in education, its secular and democratic values and scientific temper, Mr. Sivankutty said.

At the Higher Secondary level, Kerala has for a long time been using some NCERT textbooks during the first and second year. However, in recent times it has been found that significant portions in History, Political Science and Sociology books are being deliberately omitted from the textbooks.

Hence, Kerala is now preparing to bring out its own textbooks in these three subjects to ensure academic continuity and contextual relevance, Mr. Sivankutty said.

The revised Higher Secondary first year textbooks will be formally released by the end of January. In 39 titles, approximately four lakh textbooks are being printed for distribution.

The State government is disregarding the additional financial burden it might incur in this regard, he added.

In addition to reforms, the Curriculum Committee meeting scheduled for January 8 will discuss the reports on the impact of heavy school bags on the health of and the proposal to revise the schedule of mid-summer vacation in schools.

The structural report on measures to be taken to further democratise classroom spaces in the State schools by redesigning seating arrangements and eliminating the traditional “back bench” concept will also be discussed at the meeting, Mr. Sivankutty said.