Indian Express (Mumbai) 10/01/06
Despite fears of textbook shortage, state
is determined to introduce EVS
UNFAZED by the textbook
controversy following its decision to introduce the subject of Environmental
Studies (EVS) in its affiliate schools last year, the Maharashtra State
Secondary and Higher Secondary Board is all set to make the subject mandatory
at junior college level.
Beginning academic year 2006-07,
EVS—comprising 60 marks of theory and 40 marks of practical study—will be made
a compulsory subject in Std X and XI. Students will have to study the subject
irrespective of the stream (arts, science or commerce) they opt for.
The board’s move to introduce EVS in
schools and colleges follows a December 18, 2003 Supreme Court order directing
that it be made a compulsory subject in these educational institutions.
Accordingly, in June 2005, the board made
the subject compulsory for
Std IX students while introducing it as a
grade-based subject (non-compulsory) in classes IV to VIII.
However, the move met with opposition as
the board overlooked the matter of releasing textbooks on the subject at the
time of its introduction.
It was only three months later—on September
19,
2005—that the Maharashtra State Bureau of
Textbook Production and Curriculum Research released the much-awaited
textbooks.
Even then, textbooks in Marathi were
released first, followed by those in English.
‘‘In fact, English-medium schools
affiliated to the board continue to face a shortage of EVS textbooks,’’ said
Arundhati Chavan, president of the Parent Teacher Association United Forum.
‘‘It’s very important that textbooks are
released much before the academic year begins.
Let’s hope that the board releases them on
time this year,’’ she said.
Vasant Kalpande, chairman of the SSC board,
promised that the transition would be smooth this time.
‘‘This year, everything has been planned in
advance,” he said.
Textbooks for Std X and XI are in the
process of production and will be out by May this year,’’ Kalpande added.
The board plans to introduce the subject in
Std XII in 2007.
Where are the textbooks?
Following a Supreme Court directive in 2003,
the Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary Board introduced
Environmental Studies in classes IV to IX with effect from June 2005. The
subject was compulsory for students of Std IX.
However, schools and parents were upset by
this move as textbooks were made available only in September 2005 with English
textbooks still in short supply.
What the students will learn
* Energy Conservation
* Waste Management Pollution Control
*l Rainwater Harvesting
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