CBSE private schools in Uttarakhand must follow NCERT books: Minister Arvind Pandey

The minister said the government was monitoring booksellers to see to it that they were selling NCERT books and not favouring private publishers.

The Uttarakhand government will ensure that NCERT books are prescribed in CBSE-affiliated private schools, state education minister Arvind Pandey said on Sunday.

A government order notified in August last year made NCERT (National Council of Educational Research Training) books mandatory in schools, including CBSE-affiliated private ones, from this academic session. Owners of private schools affiliated to CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) had opposed the government’s decision.

“There were many hiccups and opposition to the implementation of NCERT books in CBSE-affiliated private schools of the state. But we have toiled and done hard work and the results are in front of you,” Pandey said during a ceremony organised in Haldwani to felicitate him for making NCERT books mandatory.

During the programme organised by the Student Guardian Teachers Welfare Society, Pandey made the gathering listen to a speech by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on a mobile phone. Rawat congratulated the audience on the implementation of NCERT books in the school curriculum and lauded the education minister’s efforts.

The minister said the government was monitoring booksellers to see to it that they were selling NCERT books and not favouring private publishers. The chief education officer visited a private school of Haldwani on Saturday after getting complaints that it was promoting private publishers’ books in place of NCERT ones.

“We are also thinking of introducing NCERT books in ICSE-affiliated schools in the state,” the minister said, adding that other changes would be introduced to streamline the education system.

The government’s order on mandatory NCERT books is not applicable public schools affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.

Pandey said a law to regulate fees in private schools had been drafted and would be executed after some time.

“Seven hi-tech kitchens are being developed by the Akshay Patra Foundation to provide quality midday meals to students of government schools,” Pandey said. “Apart from this, dropout students will be encouraged to enrol themselves in residential government schools.”

He said ace cricketer Madan Lal had met him in Haldwani and the Uttarakhand cricket team would soon get affiliation from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).

Former Nainital Lok Sabha MP and BJP leader Balraj Pasi, Lalkuan BJP MLA Naveen Dumka, Kaladhungi MLA Banshidhar Bhagat and outgoing Haldwani mayor Jogendra Pal Singh Rautela were present at the felicitation programme.