Srinagar, Oct 25: Centre is mulling amendments in the school curriculum of the new union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
“From class I to X, we will adopt 85% syllabus from NCERT text books. Fifteen percent of syllabus will be dedicated to the history and culture of our state,” Farooq Peer, Director Academics, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE), told The Kashmir Monitor.
Peer said the purpose behind introducing text books related to J&K and Ladakh is that students must be aware of the social, cultural and historical developments.
“We want to apprise our students about the topographical, geographical and climatic changes. Students must be aware about environmental disasters that are posing threat to our state,” said Peer
Director Academics informed that the knowledge about Kashmiri and Ladakhi saints will be incorporated in the text books to apprise students about their role in promoting religion and culture.
“We will be adopting a secular approach in our text books. With regard to science and mathematics, we will adopt NCERT so that our students do not face any hardship in competitive examinations,” he noted.
Peer said BOSE will also prepare text books for regional languages of the state. “We will adopt any relevant from NCERT. But we will prefer text books for regional languages from our own authors or from subject experts,” he said.
Noted Educationist Bashir Ahmad Dar said that it is appreciable that government is making efforts to include local culture and history in the text books for primary and middle school students.
“History of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh did not find any place in the text books in the past. But if it is included now, students will get to know the history of their own state. They will get to know different dynasties that have ruled Kashmir and resisted against their cruel rule,” he added.
Meanwhile, under the reorganization bill 2019, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) will continue to function in both union territories.
“Till Ladakh establishes its own school board, BOSE will continue to oversee the exam and other affairs of the cold desert”, he said.
