Madras HC reprimands CBSE for not issuing 'no homework' order
What's the story
The Madras HC yesterday pulled up the CBSE for not issuing a circular to all affiliated schools to implement the court's recent order banning homework for students of Classes I and II. "The Central Board of Secondary Education has not understood the seriousness of this case and the directions issued by the court. CBSE authorities think they are like CBI," Justice N Kirubakaran said.
Details
Court seeks CBSE Secretary's appearance if circular is not issued
Justice Kirubakaran said the CBSE Secretary should appear in the court if the "no homework" circular was not issued by August 17. The court also directed the appearance of education secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry if they failed to respond to a circular issued by the central government in connection with the no homework rule by that date.
Directions
Court had earlier directed to reduce weight of school bags
Justice Kirubakaran passed the direction on a petition by advocate M Purushothaman, seeking a direction to the CBSE to follow only NCERT-prescribed syllabus and books. In an interim order issued on May 29, the judge had directed the Center to instruct the state governments to reduce the weight of satchels of school children and do away with homework for Classes I and II.
CBSE's take
CBSE had filed appeal against some orders of Court
Justice Kirubakaran had also said the use of National Council for Educational Research and Training books be made mandatory. However, in a subsequent hearing, the CBSE had informed the court that it would implement the no homework order. But the board had also said it had filed an appeal against all other orders, including the direction on the use of NCERT books.
Allegations
Petitioner alleges nexus between private-book publishers, CBSE, private CBSE schools
Purushothaman alleged that there was a nexus between the private book publishers, CBSE authorities, and private CBSE schools. "That is the reason why they didn't move an appeal against the Delhi HC order which said schools can prescribe to books of private publishers. But the authorities have moved an appeal against the order of Madras HC which prohibited books of private publishers," he charged.
Quality of education
Class-II GK book had exercise to identify Salman Khan, Katrina
Seeking to expose the quality of books published by private firms, Purushothaman produced a copy of the general knowledge book prescribed by a private CBSE school in Chennai for Class II, saying that in an exercise children had to identify pictures of famous film personalities including Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. "What general knowledge they try to inculcate by giving such exercises?" he asked.