The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recently modified the textbooks of classes 3 & 6, especially deleting the Preamble to the Constitution from these books. This change is part of the general revision process due to the National Education Policy (NEP) that was launched in 2020 to redesign the education system.
Educational Revisions and Public Response
The controversy over the teaching of constitutional values to young learners has arisen due to NCERT’s action of not including the Preamble in several primary school textbooks. Before, the Preamble was found in the initial pages of many texts in different fields of study. Now it is available only in two books for Class VI, one is the Hindi book “Malhar†and the other is the science book “Curiosityâ€. The Preamble has been completely omitted in all new textbooks for Class III; it includes subjects like Hindi, English, mathematics, and the subject formerly known as Environmental Studies (EVS) but now called “World Around Usâ€.
NCERT's Response
In defense of the curriculum overhaul, NCERT officials, including ‘Professor Ranjana Arora’, Head of the Department of Curriculum Studies and Development, have emphasized that the removal of the Preamble does not diminish its educational value. However, the changes in the textbooks’ content are intended to include a wider range of constitutional aspects in the curriculum at various stages of education. This also covers the Preamble but also fundamental duties, rights, and the national anthem to provide a holistic view of the constitution of India.
Critics of the changes, including educators and opposition political figures, argue that the Preamble's omission might reflect a deeper ideological shift under the current government. They express concerns that excluding the Preamble, which succinctly encapsulates democratic values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, could undermine the foundational principles the Constitution represents. This has led to a significant outcry, with calls for NCERT to reconsider these modifications and maintain the Preamble's presence to foster a well-rounded civic education.