Kerala Govt Updates School Textbooks with Constitution Preamble

The state’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty, also the chairman of the State Curriculum Committee, revealed a groundbreaking decision on Tuesday.

Government’s Initiative for Constitutional Values

For the first time in Kerala’s history, The Kerala Govt Updates School Textbooks will feature the preamble to the country’s Constitution. The CPI(M)-led Left Government has resolved to embed this important document in the syllabus for classes 1 to 10, aiming to instill constitutional values in young minds.

2. Government’s Commitment to Constitutional Reforms

General Education Minister V Sivankutty officially declared this momentous decision, emphasizing the government’s commitment to constitutional principles.

Curriculum Reforms and Textbook Approval

The State Curriculum Steering Committee recently endorsed 173 new textbooks for Classes I, III, V, VII, and IX, marking a significant overhaul after a decade.

Preamble Integration in Every Textbook

Sivankutty highlighted that, for the first time, the Constitution’s preamble would be included and printed at the beginning of each textbook.

3. SCERT’s Role in Educational Transformation

Jayaprakash R K, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), shared insights into this groundbreaking initiative.

SCERT’s Autonomy and Educational Responsibilities

SCERT, an autonomous body overseeing academic programs from pre-school to higher secondary levels, affirmed that the Preamble would be incorporated into all revised textbooks. Furthermore, it will be integrated into teacher training programs to facilitate understanding among educators and students.

Multilingual Approach

Jayaprakash clarified that the Preamble’s language would align with the medium of the textbook – Malayalam for Malayalam textbooks, Tamil for Tamil textbooks, and Hindi for Hindi textbooks.

4. Objective and Significance of Preamble Integration

The government’s objective, as explained by Jayaprakash, is to raise awareness about the Constitution’s significance among youngsters.

Addressing the Educational Gap

In an era of widespread discussions on constitutional values, this initiative aims to help children comprehend the Constitution’s importance from a young age.

Teacher Training for Effective Imparting

Recognizing the potential difficulty for younger children to grasp constitutional concepts, teachers will undergo training to effectively convey the Constitution’s meaning and message during their teaching sessions.

5. Political Response: T M Thomas Isaac’s Perspective

Senior Left Leader and former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac expressed his support for the state government’s decision.

Government’s Response to Communalization Attempts

Isaac highlighted that the revised school textbooks would not only include the Constitution’s Preamble but also feature a gender-sensitive curriculum. Subjects such as POCSO rules, democratic and secular values, and scientific temperament will be incorporated, serving as a response to attempts to communalize education.

Early Distribution of Revised Textbooks

Sources from the General Education Department indicate that the revised textbooks will reach students weeks before schools reopen for the next academic year, ensuring timely implementation of the educational reforms.

Kerala’s decision to integrate the Constitution’s preamble into school textbooks represents a significant step towards nurturing constitutional values among the younger generation. The comprehensive approach, involving curriculum reforms, teacher training, and multilingual considerations, reflects a commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of the Constitution’s principles from the early stages of education.