A volte face by Comprehensive Education Karnataka (CEK) has triggered a political debate in the state.

Based on an NCERT circular dated Aug 13, 2025, CEK, which operates under the state school education department, had issued a directive to schoolteachers to ‘sensitise’ students on the horrors of the 1947 Partition through an educative module.

However, on Sunday, the department issued another circular, withdrawing its earlier order and instructing DDPIs and BEOs not to share links of the earlier circular with teachers. They were told to ensure any link already shared must not reach the students.

This has stirred a debate on whether teachers are being used as pawns in a game of political one-upmanship between the centre and state.

T N Prakash Kammardi, a retired professor and former chairman of Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, suspects the bureaucracy is implementing such NCERT circulars without applying its mind.

“Modules on the horrors of Partition are provocative, and they may ignite communal riots in the state. The ministry concerned should have brought it to the notice of the state govt,” he observed.

Weighing in on the issue, Basavaraj Gurikar, the president of All India Primary School Teachers’ Federation, New Delhi, said the NCERT circular was confusing in the first place.

“It was an attempt to spread communal hatred. The state govt should have discussed with educationists and teachers’ unions before issuing instructions to teachers, who have been pushed into a confusing situation [over issuance of contradictory circulars] within weeks,” he commented.

Arun Shahapur, former BJP MLC from Karnataka Northwest Teachers constituency, however, alleged the state govt was trying to see political motives in just about everything.

“If they have any objection to NCERT modules, they should have written to NCERT. Why did they send them to schools, and why did they withdraw it later? Did they conduct any study on these modules?” Shahapur commented.

Taking a dig at the state govt, he further said: “These modules are based on historical facts. Some educationists are unnecessarily calling these out ‘faulty’. It shows ‘Tughlak darbar’ prevails in the state.”

School education minister Madhu Bangarappa was unavailable for comments when TOI tried to contact him.