India's new hall of fame: CBSE texts

CBSE is flooded with requests from various government departments, the military and para-military forces, and industry bodies suggesting the work they do should be included as a lesson in the students' social science syllabus. Prasad Nichenametla & Charu Sudan Kasturi report.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is flooded with requests from various government departments, the military and para-military forces, and industry bodies suggesting the work they do be included as a lesson in the students' social science syllabus.

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All claim they want to 'inspire the young generation' by relating all that these agencies do and their 'contribution to nation building'.

But academics feel that if their requests were acceded to, the social science syllabus, already heavy, would become overburdened.

The CBSE has yet to take a call on any of these requests.

"There is pressure from organisations such as the Income Tax department, the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and the Border Security Force, who have approached CBSE requesting their work be included in the syllabus," said a professor at the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which drafts the country's school text books.

The army has requested human resource development minister Kapil Sibal to make 'the contribution of the armed forces to India' part of school curriculum.

"Incorporating fresh content into existing syllabi involves bringing out a new edition of the existing textbook and ensuring it reaches all students," said a senior CBSE official.

"It can only be done once in a few years."

After a recent request, a committee was formed which is working on making road safety part of the social science syllabus.