NCPCR asks states to ensure uniformity in school curriculum

Npnews24 Online New Delhi: In order to ensure that the students across the country follow uniform curriculum at least till Class VIII, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked Boards to ensure that the school do not make children carry books by private publishers.

In his letter addressed to the Education Departments of States and Union Territories, Priyank Kanoongo of NCPCR clearly said, “No child shall be discriminated and/or harassed and/or neglected by the school for carrying books published/prescribed by the academic authority causing ‘mental or physical suffering’. Any action taken against the child and hence, may attract the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.”

The notification was released following doubts that some private schools were making children carry books by private publishers, different from those prescribed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

The notification also said that only NCERT and its state counterparts are the nodal authorities to decide on curriculum. This statement was particularly pointed towards the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which the Council thinks might have misinterpreted the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) on certain occasions.

As uniformity in syllabus is necessary according to the norms of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, NCPCR has asked the education departments across the country to ensure the same.