CBSE introduces a chapter on NE

Pune, December 27 2015:
In a bid to promote a better understanding of the people hailing from
the North East, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has
included a chapter on North East for Class IX students as part of its
English curriculum for the Open Text Book Assessment (OTBA) .

“Every year, before the second summative assessment schedule, the CBSE
sends out the curriculum for OTBA, which are basically open text book
exams.

A core committee picks out these subjects every year and prepares the curriculum to be circulated.

Usually, we try some value-based teaching on some current topics which leads to positive discussions.

We
are glad the selection of chapter on North East has been appreciated,”
said Sugandh Sharma, Additional Director (research and innovation),
CBSE.

The English paper for OTBA has two themes.

The first, “Let’s Welcome, Accept and Respect”, is based on eight States of the North East.

The second emphasizes India is a secular country and even has a poem ” U, Me, We” dedicated to unity in diversity.

The 10-page chapter details the distinctive features of each of the
eight States beginning with Manipur, which had been described as a State
which is home to various art forms and a rich musical culture and is a
place where tradition meets modernity.

The chapter speaks of
Meghalaya as the torch-bearer of Khasi poetry and of Shillong, which is
often called Rock Capital of India.

The chapter also traces the
folk tales of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, the National icons hailing
from Assam like film personality Bhupen Hazarika, bloom time in Sikkim
and the unspoiled natural beauty of Tripura combined with its
distinctive combination of cultures and communities.

Nagaland resident and former president of North East Organisation of Pune, Rock Lungleng, welcomed the move.

“This is the true aim of education, to instill values in students.

In the North East, we learn about rest of India, so we are not shocked when we come here to study or work.

But there is a lot of discrimination that we face, especially on campuses from other students.

If
there is an understanding of our distinct culture since the school
level itself, assimilation into mainstream will be easier for us,” he
said.

Academicians too lauded the decision of the CBSE to choose North East region for this year’s OTBA.

“Every year, CBSE picks up subjects which are in discussion.

Given
the debate on intolerance, a subject that promotes acceptance amongst
students of cultures different from their one is a welcome move,” said
Vinita Khaladkar, Principal of City International School.

Another
Principal, CV Madhavi of Aundh DAV School, said since there was no
cramming involved in OTBA, children took a lot of interest in reading
these subjects.

“It promotes a greater level of understanding of the subject,” she said.