After NCERT modules, Gujarat likely to add Swadeshi lessons to school curriculum, ETEducation
Gandhinagar: Following the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) rollout of special educational modules on ‘Swadeshi’, the Gujarat govt is likely to introduce lessons on the subject in school education.
This initiative aligns with PM Modi’s call for a self-reliant India by promoting locally manufactured goods. Sources from the Gujarat State School Textbook Board indicate that while administrative developments on introducing Swadeshi lessons in the syllabus are pending, these could be added to the school curriculum in the next academic year.
Last month, NCERT launched two modules: ‘Swadeshi – Vocal for Local’ for middle school and ‘Swadeshi – For a Self-Reliant India’ for the secondary level.
These publications trace the roots of a self-reliant India from 1905 to the present day, linking the historical boycott of foreign goods with initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
According to top sources, the ruling BJP’s recently-appointed committee for promoting the concepts of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swadeshi has recommended including these concepts in school curricula, “so that students can develop a perspective on self-reliance.” The committee is headed by party leader and former minister Pradipsinh Jadeja.
State govt sources said that while NCERT guidelines on the subject will be fully adopted, students will learn Swadeshi concepts using examples from Gujarat and other instances. “The role of Mahatma Gandhi in promoting locally made goods in Gujarat, examples of countries adopting this concept after world wars, and instances of how locally made products have benefited society will be taught,” a source said. “We are currently studying the NCERT modules and gathering feedback on the need to teach Swadeshi and ‘Atmanirbharta’ concepts,” said top govt sources.
They added that many schools and students are already familiar with self-reliance concepts, and it is appropriate for students to have historical references to the Swadeshi movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and others in their curriculum. “Formal consultations with stakeholders will begin after the education department conducts a detailed study of the NCERT modules,” sources said. Officials from the state textbook board stated, “Currently, NCERT books on mathematics, science, and social studies are taught in Gujarat board schools. The NCERT will issue guidelines on this subject, which will be reviewed by the board. A decision will be made subsequently.” Sources in the board added that there is still no clarity on which subject textbooks will include Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
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