Yet another textbook in a CBSE school has sparked a controversy by allegedly insinuating non-vegetarians lie, cheat and commit crimes, with the government terming it as ‘unfortunate’ and asking state bodies to remain alert about such content and monitor them.
‘Sensitivities of communities have to be kept in mind. I think its unfortunate, an occasional aberration happens. But what I would request is that the state body should always be on alert just like how NCERT is on alert and monitor the content... that is what we can advocate from this Ministry,’ HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju told reporters while replying to queries on the Class VI textbook.
CBSE on the other hand said they prescribe textbook only from class IX onwards and it is the school which decides on which books to prescribe for students in other classes.
The minister’s reaction came after media reports highlighted the content of the textbook of a CBSE school.
The book titled New Healthway: Health, Hygiene, Physiology, Safety, Sex Education, Games and Exercises reportedly said that non-vegetarians ‘easily cheat, tell lies, they forget promises, they are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and commit sex crimes.’
The development came close on the heels of the Ministry asking NCERT to present a report about some ‘objectionable’ references in a CBSE textbook about Nadar community in Tamil Nadu.
‘Sensitivities of communities have to be kept in mind. I think its unfortunate, an occasional aberration happens. But what I would request is that the state body should always be on alert just like how NCERT is on alert and monitor the content... that is what we can advocate from this Ministry,’ HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju told reporters while replying to queries on the Class VI textbook.
CBSE on the other hand said they prescribe textbook only from class IX onwards and it is the school which decides on which books to prescribe for students in other classes.
The minister’s reaction came after media reports highlighted the content of the textbook of a CBSE school.
The book titled New Healthway: Health, Hygiene, Physiology, Safety, Sex Education, Games and Exercises reportedly said that non-vegetarians ‘easily cheat, tell lies, they forget promises, they are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and commit sex crimes.’
The development came close on the heels of the Ministry asking NCERT to present a report about some ‘objectionable’ references in a CBSE textbook about Nadar community in Tamil Nadu.