Chapters on the Periodic Table and Challenges to Democracy Removed from NCERT Class 10 Textbooks

The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) recently made changes to the Class 10 textbooks as part of a "rationalisation" effort. These changes were based on recommendations from experts in the field. As a result, certain chapters have been removed from the textbooks, including topics such as the Periodic Table, the contribution of agriculture to the national economy, challenges to democracy, and sustainable management of natural resources.

The revised textbooks, reflecting these deletions and modifications, are now available in the market. These changes aim to streamline the curriculum and ensure that students receive the most relevant and essential information.

However, the decision to make these deletions permanent has raised concerns among scientists and teachers. They worry about the potential long-term impact of removing these crucial chapters from the syllabus. The exclusion of topics like the Periodic Table could limit students' understanding of fundamental concepts in chemistry. Similarly, the removal of chapters on agriculture's contribution to the economy may hinder students' comprehension of an essential sector.

By removing these chapters, there is a risk of creating gaps in students' knowledge and limiting their ability to grasp complex concepts in the future. The NCERT made changes to the textbooks last year, and they mentioned that reducing the content load on students is important due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also stated that the National Education Policy 2020 focuses on reducing the amount of content and promoting experiential learning with a creative mindset.

In recent developments, the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) in India has made significant changes to the curriculum of Class 9 and Class 10 science textbooks. One notable change is the removal of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution from the syllabus. This decision has sparked controversy and raised concerns among educators and scholars.

Furthermore, the NCERT has been involved in several other controversies regarding curriculum changes. References to important historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, as well as significant events like Gandhi's assassination, have been removed from Class 11 Political Science textbooks. Additionally, references to Mughal history have been shortened in various NCERT textbooks.

The rationale behind these changes lies in the NCERT's attempt to rationalize and lighten the curriculum load on students. A syllabus revision exercise took place from December 2021 to June 2022, resulting in the deletion of 30% of the syllabus across Classes 6 to 12. This was the third syllabus revision undertaken by the NCERT since 2014, with previous revisions occurring in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

It is important to note that these recent changes have generated mixed reactions from different scholars in the education sector. While some argue that streamlining the curriculum can reduce students' burden, others express concerns about the removal of crucial topics and historical events that provide a holistic understanding of subjects.

Overall, the recent changes made by the NCERT to the Class 10 textbooks, including the removal of topics such as the Periodic Table, the contribution of agriculture to the national economy, Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and the shortening of references to historical figures and events, have sparked controversy and debate. These changes were implemented as part of a rationalization exercise aimed at lightening the curriculum load on students.