GANDHINAGAR: If all goes as planned, children studying in Gujarat schools will learn to recite shlokas and write essays on the Bhagwad Gita from the next academic year.
The Gujarat government on Thursday announced in the ongoing assembly session that the holy scripture will be taught to students from Classes 6 to 12 beginning June 2022. In another significant decision, the government has also decided to introduce English subject compulsorily from Class 1.
After education minister Jitu Vaghani made these announcements, separate government resolutions for both decisions were also issued. The decisions will be applicable to schools affiliated to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB).
“People from all faiths have accepted the moral values and principles outlined in the ancient Hindu scripture,” Vaghani told mediapersons in Gandhinagar, while explaining the rationale behind the decision to introduce the Gita in education.
“The decision to introduce the values and principles enshrined in the holy text in school curriculum is in line with the new National Education Policy unveiled by the Centre, which advocates the introduction of modern and ancient culture, traditions, and knowledge systems. This is being done so that students can feel proud of India’s rich and diverse culture,” the minister said.
“We have decided to introduce the Gita in the school curriculum from Classes 6 to 12. The scripture will be introduced in the ‘Sarvangi Shikshan’ (holistic education) textbook for students of Classes 6 to 8. It will be introduced in the form of storytelling in textbooks of the first language for Classes 9 to 12,” he said.
Schools will also organise activities based on the scripture such as prayers, shloka recitation, comprehension, drama, quiz, painting, and elocution competitions, he said. Study material such as books and audio-video CDs will be provided to schools by the government, the minister added. Students will also be introduced to English in Class 1 from the next academic session, instead of Class 3 as is the current practice. From June, students will be taught listening and speaking skills in Class 1 and 2 after which they will have regular textbooks on English from class 3 onwards, the GR says.
It adds that the changes are being made to bring Gujarat’s education system in congruence with the National Education Policy 2020, which mentions that children pick up multiple languages very easily between the ages of 2 and 8.
Two decades ago, a similar attempt had been made to introduce English as a subject in Class 1. Since all stakeholders did not agree to the proposal, it was put on the back-burner.
The Gujarat government on Thursday announced in the ongoing assembly session that the holy scripture will be taught to students from Classes 6 to 12 beginning June 2022. In another significant decision, the government has also decided to introduce English subject compulsorily from Class 1.
After education minister Jitu Vaghani made these announcements, separate government resolutions for both decisions were also issued. The decisions will be applicable to schools affiliated to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB).
“People from all faiths have accepted the moral values and principles outlined in the ancient Hindu scripture,” Vaghani told mediapersons in Gandhinagar, while explaining the rationale behind the decision to introduce the Gita in education.
“The decision to introduce the values and principles enshrined in the holy text in school curriculum is in line with the new National Education Policy unveiled by the Centre, which advocates the introduction of modern and ancient culture, traditions, and knowledge systems. This is being done so that students can feel proud of India’s rich and diverse culture,” the minister said.
“We have decided to introduce the Gita in the school curriculum from Classes 6 to 12. The scripture will be introduced in the ‘Sarvangi Shikshan’ (holistic education) textbook for students of Classes 6 to 8. It will be introduced in the form of storytelling in textbooks of the first language for Classes 9 to 12,” he said.
Schools will also organise activities based on the scripture such as prayers, shloka recitation, comprehension, drama, quiz, painting, and elocution competitions, he said. Study material such as books and audio-video CDs will be provided to schools by the government, the minister added. Students will also be introduced to English in Class 1 from the next academic session, instead of Class 3 as is the current practice. From June, students will be taught listening and speaking skills in Class 1 and 2 after which they will have regular textbooks on English from class 3 onwards, the GR says.
It adds that the changes are being made to bring Gujarat’s education system in congruence with the National Education Policy 2020, which mentions that children pick up multiple languages very easily between the ages of 2 and 8.
Two decades ago, a similar attempt had been made to introduce English as a subject in Class 1. Since all stakeholders did not agree to the proposal, it was put on the back-burner.