The Delhi Supreme Court on Monday asked for the position of the Center and the city government on a plea for the implementation of a unified education system, meaning that students up to grade 12 have a common syllabus and curriculum in their mother tongue.
The plea argued that a common curriculum and curriculum in the native language will not only achieve the code of a common culture, remove inequalities and discriminatory values, but also enhance virtues and improve the quality of life, elevating thoughts that to promote the constitutional goal of an equal society.
Read also| Like NEET, CUET Against State Council, Poor Rural Kids, Says TN CM MK Stalin, Asks Modi To Revoke CUCET
A bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi also demanded a response from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), while notifying the petition by attorney Ashwini Kumar Upadhayay .
The counter affidavit must reflect the policies the defendant has adopted and proposes to adopt in light of the Supreme Court’s decision (on common syllabus), the bench said, which also includes Judge Navin Chawla. The petitioner has alleged that various syllabus and curriculum by CBSE, ISCE and state governments are contrary to Articles 14, 15, 16, 21, 21A of the Constitution and that the right to education implies the right to equal education.
Read| Government to roll out national curriculum framework to ‘decolonize’ Indian education soon, Pradhan publishes guidelines
Syllabus & curriculum is common to all entrance exams viz. JEE, BITSAT, NEET, MAT, NET, NDA, CU-CET, CLAT, AILET, SET, KVPY, NEST, PO, SCRA, NIFT, AIEED, NATA, CEPT etc. But syllabus and curriculum of CBSE, CICSE and state administration is totally different. Thus, students will not be given equal opportunities in the spirit of Articles 14-16, according to the petition.
However, the petitioner has argued that school mafia do not want a ‘One Nation-One Education Board’, coaching mafia do not want a ‘One Nation-One Syllabus’ and book mafia do not want NCERT books in all schools. A common syllabus and curriculum is essential for all, as children’s rights should not be limited to free and compulsory education only, but should be extended to equal and quality education without discrimination on socio-economic background, the petitioner said. The case was to be heard on August 30.
Read all the latest news, breaking news and IPL 2022 Live Updates here.