NCERT's Class 8 English language textbook contains Hindi, Sanskrit
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New Delhi: A new textbook for the English language introduced by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for Class 8 contains lengthy sentences and Hindi and Sanskrit words, beyond the comprehension levels of 8th graders, reports The Telegraph.
In some instances, these words and usages could even challenge adults and academics, who believe that this could hinder learning. Academics also point out hints of smuggling in the Hindutva agenda through the school curriculum, citing certain parts in the text.
The textbook titled Poorvi does not prioritise learning of English, Professor Anita Rampal, former dean of the faculty of education at Delhi University and former chairperson of the NCERT’s primary textbook development committee, opined.
When the main objective of a textbook is to help children learn language, the book in question uses sentences that are dense, and the language is not suitable for even adult readers, Anita said. The language in the book feels more like an imposition of an incomprehensible language on young children.
She points out that one among the chapters in the book is titled “A Tale of Valour” and it uses terms like beacon of inspiration”, “conspicuous bravery”, “tenacity and valour”, “resolute”, “eerily silent”, “valorous tales”, “filling magazines”, “serve the nation with distinction” and “testament to discipline and dedication”.
A sentence reads, At every intersection of patriotism — whether through the National War Memorial, soul-stirring patriotic songs, books, and stories recounting acts of valour, or the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav — his memory is honoured.”
When children are supposed to guess the meanings of new words from the context, the language in the book in question will pose unfamiliar and difficult to understand even for adults, he said. This tends to hinder children from engaging with the book, she said.
Further, the repeated mention of the National War Memorial in the textbooks of elementary classes has a problematic agenda, which tends to reduce 'patriotism' to a violent and aggressive act of crushing the enemy or 'infiltrators, she said.
Also, the English language textbooks widely use Hindi and Sanskrit terms and even sentences.
