The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has unveiled its 19-member National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC), featuring a mix of luminaries. Infosys Foundation Chairman Sudha Murthy, renowned music virtuoso Shankar Mahadevan, and esteemed economist Sanjeev Sanyal are among the individuals selected to spearhead the overhaul of textbooks in accordance with the new curriculum.
Chaired by MC Pant, the chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), the NSTC is tasked with crafting an innovative educational experience for students in classes 3 to 12. Collaborating closely with Curricular Area Groups (CAGs), the committee will meticulously develop enriched teaching-learning materials for various subjects, a groundbreaking initiative backed by the NCERT's commitment to quality education, according to PTI.
The NSTC is further guided by the co-chairmanship of mathematics luminary Manjul Bhargav from Princeton University. Comprising an assembly of accomplished individuals, including mathematician Sujatha Ramdorai, badminton luminary U Vimal Kumar, policy visionary MD Srinivas, and language advocate Chamu Krishna Shastry, the committee is mandated to prepare the textbooks, and other teaching learning materials, which will, in turn, be published and used by the NCERT, as per the terms of reference.
"The NSTC will be assisted by Curricular Area Groups (CAGs) in the development of the teaching-learning material for each curricular area. These groups will include appropriate experts for the said subject, and will be formed by the chairperson and the co-Chairperson of NSTC, with the assistance of NCERT," an official told PTI.
The NCERT's efforts towards curriculum enhancement haven't been without controversy. A recent revision of NCERT textbooks, resulting in the omission of certain topics, led to spirited debates and allegations of politically-motivated actions. Despite acknowledging potential oversights in the revisions, the NCERT stood firm in its decision, attributing the changes to the guidance provided by a panel of distinguished experts.
