Himachal Pradesh: Critics hit out at government for ‘saffron’ education as the state introduced ‘shloka’ chanting in schools.
Highlight
- HPSEB is going to start Sanskrit from class 3rd, Vedic maths from class 6th from this session
- HP plans to start teaching Bhagavad Gita to students of classes IX to XII from 2023
- Critics believe that it is an attempt to saffronise the mind at an early age
Seen as saffronisation of school education or an attempt to revive its ancient glory, Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPSEB) is going to introduce Sanskrit from Class III and Vedic Mathematics from Class VI from this session.
In addition, the state plans to start teaching Bhagavad Gita as a subject to students of classes IX to XII from next year.
Critics are of the view that instead of providing quality education based on respectful foundation of knowledge in English, Mathematics and Science, it is merely an attempt to saffronise the mind at a young age.
However, state education minister Govind Thakur believes that there is nothing wrong in starting books on values.
Its aim is to make the students aware of their culture. “The Bhagavad Gita will be taught in Sanskrit and Hindi in schools. Also, Sanskrit will be introduced from class III onwards as it is rich in vocabulary, literature and values,” he said.
Thakur’s statement comes after Gujarat announced that the Bhagavad Gita will be part of the school curriculum for classes 6 to 12 this year.
HPSEB chairman Suresh Kumar Soni told IANS that the board has prepared a curriculum for teaching Sanskrit and Vedic mathematics in all government and board-affiliated schools.
He said that it will take time to start teaching the Bhagavad Gita.
The number of students in board schools in class III is around 1.50 lakh, while in class VI it is around 1.25 lakh.
HPSEB will be the first education board in the country to introduce Sanskrit at the primary level.
For classes III and IV, the Sanskrit examinations will be objective. After that, the exams will be descriptive.
For Vedic Mathematics, the basics and subject introduction will begin in Class VI.
An official statement quoting Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the younger generation should be taught Sanskrit so that they can feel proud of their rich culture and traditions.
He believes that Sanskrit is the most ancient language and is perfect among the great languages of the world. This is the biggest treasure given by ancient India to the world.
In February 2019, the state assembly passed a bill to make Sanskrit the second official language of the state. The first official language of Himachal is Hindi.
The Director of Higher Education, in an order on March 4, directed that prayers in the morning school meetings may be held in English, Hindi and Sanskrit to develop the interest of students in these languages as well.
Responding to the move to introduce Sanskrit from Class III onwards, Ashwini Thakur, the principal of the Government Senior Secondary School, who is posted in Kufri, near here, told IANS that most government schools have a Shastri (classical and local) teacher who is can teach easily. Sanskrit language
Presiding over a program of Sanskrit Bharati at Jwalamukhi in Kangra district in February, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said, “We believe in Sanskrit but sincerely work should be done to promote it, for which Sanskrit Bharati was striving. “
He said that the Raj Bhavan would set up a special cell which would advise on the spread and practice of Sanskrit.
Arlekar believes that Sanskrit is a divine language that needs to be converted into a vernacular.
Congress spokesperson Naresh Chauhan said, “BJP is trying to politicize education. The BJP government should focus on improving and providing infrastructure in schools instead of imposing the party’s agenda.”
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