NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will work towards bringing a balanced perspective on all genders in the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and in its textbooks, said the report of a parliamentary panel.
NCERT is currently designing the four curriculum frameworks – early childhood education, school education, teacher education and adult education.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports had earlier recommended that to address under-representation of women in school textbooks or them being depicted only in traditional roles, a thorough analysis from the viewpoint of gender bias and stereotypes should be undertaken by NCERT. It had recommended that textbooks should have greater portrayal of women in new and emerging professions as role models with a focus on their contributions.
It had also said efforts should be made to make content portrayal and visual depiction gender inclusive.
The report was tabled in Parliament on Monday.
“The committee has been informed that NCERT has taken note of all the issues raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports and will contribute adequately to bringing in a balanced perspective of all genders in the NCF, syllabus and all textbooks which will be developed as a follow-up of NCFs, ” it said.
“While examining the textbooks, other issues like environment sensitivity, human values, issues of children with special needs can be looked up for adequate inclusion in textbooks,” the panel had said.