Ministry of Education clarifies misleading reports on NCERT Textbooks availability

Delhi: The Ministry of Education has issued a clarification today in response to a recent article titled “Confusion over revised NCERT textbooks for classes VI, IX and XI leave teachers in a tizzy” published in The Hindu on July 9, 2024. The news item, which suggests delays and inconsistencies in textbook distribution, has been deemed factually incorrect and misleading in the press release.

The article stated that:

• NCERT’s Class VI textbooks would require an additional two months before reaching students.
• CBSE did not clearly communicate whether only classes III and VI would receive updated textbooks or if classes IX and XI would also be included.
• Textbooks for Class IX subjects like English and geography, and for Class XI subjects such as computer science, chemistry, and history, have not been printed.

To address any concerns and provide clarity:

• NCERT confirms that all Grade 6 textbooks will be available by July 2024, contrary to the incorrect two-month timeline mentioned earlier. To facilitate a smooth transition to the new curriculum, NCERT has introduced a month-long bridge program across all 10 subject areas for Grade 6, currently in use to enhance hands-on learning experiences.
• In March 2024, CBSE communicated through Circular no. Acad. 29/2024 that there are no changes to the curriculum or textbooks for classes other than 3 and 6. Schools are advised to continue using the same textbooks from the previous academic year (2023-24) for these classes, addressing any confusion caused by misinformation.
• RPDC Bangalore, serving South Indian states including Tamil Nadu, has received and fulfilled the demand for Class 9 and 11 textbooks from NCERT Publication Division without any reported shortages. DeshGujarat