Customised NCERT books with ‘U.P. touch’ from 2024-25 session at govt primary schools
Now lakhs of students of classes 1 and 2 enrolled in over 1
Now lakhs of students of classes 1 and 2 enrolled in over 1.13 lakh government-run primary schools spread across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh would be taught from the specially customised books designed as per the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) curriculum from the academic session 2024-25.
For this the characteristics and dialects of Uttar Pradesh would be inculcated in these books to suit the needs of UP kids, said state basic education department officials.
Earlier it was decided to introduce these books from the coming academic session of 2023-24 itself, in accordance with the provisions of the new National Education Policy (2020). But in view of the time needed to adapt these books for the students to make them more aware about the Hindi heartland state, it has been decided to conduct studies using existing textbooks this session and start introducing these books from 2024-25 session beginning with classes 1 and 2 students, said a senior state basic education department official confirming the plans.
Meanwhile, State Institute of Education (SIE), in Allenganj locality of Prayagraj will first prepare NCERT’s Hindi book ‘Rimjhim’ to be taught in class 1 from the perspective of UP and then books of other subjects will be customised and introduced starting from the next year, the official added.
“Following the recent decision of the state cabinet, the books for class 1 and 2 would be changed from next year. These books will be based on NCERT pattern but so designed that it will disseminate the knowledge and information about Uttar Pradesh as well,” said director general (school education) Vijay Kiran Anand.
“We will first customise the book for Hindi and Maths subjects of class 1 and 2 and the same would be provided to the students from 2024-25 academic session,” said DG (School Education).
Officials said that after getting the budget in the annual action plan of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the work of customising the books according to UP will formally begin. SIE is already preparing dictionary of Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj and Bundelkhandi languages. A workbook will also be made for the children, they added.
Explaining the planned customisation of the NCERT books for UP, officials shared that for example, if there is mention of travel to Kerala in the NCERT book, then there will be description of travel to Varanasi or Lucknow in the book being customised by SIE for UP students.
Now that NCERT books would only become available from 2024-25 session, in the academic session starting from April 1, 2023, the students of classes 1 and 2 of government-run primary schools may have to wait for a while for new books. The books for class 3 students will reach the districts by the end of March. The work order for classes 1 and 2 books will be issued this very week and the books will start arriving by the third week of April, officials shared.