CHENNAI: Educationists in the state have said that while the decision to improve the quality of books under the Uniform School Education(USE) by the AIADMK government was welcome, instead of doing away with the books entirely, the government could instead work on certain portions and delete the controversial portions of the syllabus under the USE. The government has stated that an expert committee would be set up to look into improving the quality of Uniform School Education books. The present system of education could not help in the quality of education and so for the upcoming academic year, the old pattern of books would be followed. Prince Gajendra Babu, convenor, State Platform for Common School System, said the decision was disappointing. “Instead of working on the standard of the books under the Common School System, the government has decided to withhold the books. We suggest that the government issue circulars along with the current set of books, indicating revised versions relating to certain specific portions. Further, the government can indicate the deleted portions. For example, a particular portion for Class IX speaks in praise of the former CM M Karunanidhi,” he said. It was the DMK government which had to be blamed for not releasing the books to the students on time, their delay had caused havoc for the student community now, he added. “We are going to appeal to the government to reconsider the Cabinet decision and release the books already published to the students along with the changes. The expert committee is a good idea, but it would be better if they take a year, study and then come up with the necessary changes from next year on, he said.Educationist Dr S S Rajagopalan said standard books under the USE was much better than the ones prescribed earlier. These sets of books have been prepared by a team of scholars. An error which was present in the books prescribed by the Matriculation Board prescribed before the USE was “Madurai was the capital of Cholan Empire”. Such kinds of factual tragedies were common in the earlier set of books. The USE books are much better off in terms of quality of content, he said. “Quality of education, does not mean just uniform syllabus but includes free and quality education for all across schools. Along with improvement in the syllabus, the AIADMK government should look at other changes too ,” he said.Educationist Jayanthi Kumaran said the decision might jeopardise the preparations that the schools have already begun for the next public examinations. She said that it was not fair to have an overnight change in the whole syllabus and put the students community in confusion. “The government should reconsider and bring about the necessary changes from next year,” she added. There were factual errors in the present system but they could be reworked on, with the government taking help of expert committees, she maintained.
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