Students to get new books this year

KOTTAYAM: Amid loud protests from various teacher's groups, the reforms into the Kerala Curriculum Framework 2007 has turn into reality as from the next educational year students will be provided with revised textbooks. (32)

An expert committee was appointed by the Kerala Government, headed by Dr P K Abdul Azis recommended reforms in the current curriculum. The committee observed that the KCF 2007 had weakened the relevance of teacher in the classroom. They remarked that there are shortcomings with regards to the content of textbooks and also excessive stress on analytical instil which creates obstacles in the teaching process. It is based on activity oriented learning and is student-centric.

The report was introduced in July 2013 and draws objections from various groups of teachers in the state. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad opined that the new reforms will nullify the concept of learning without burden.

Speaking over the phone Prof K A Hashim, Director of The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) said, “We have conducted periodical meetings with various teachers group and come to the conclusion of revising the curriculum.”

“All the suggestions made by the committee has been accepted by the education department, the implementation is going on and the new textbooks will be introduced by April 2014,” he added.

According to the new reforms literary classics in Malayalam from Ezhuthachan onwards will now find place in textbooks. Contributions made by social reformers like Mannathu Padmanabhan for the educational and social development in Kerala will be included in the new curriculum.