Government Starts Revising Social Studies Textbooks for Grades 5, 8 and 10
The Government of Nepal has started the process of revising the Social Studies textbooks for Grades 5, 8, and 10. Yubaraj Poudel, Director General of the Curriculum Development Centre, said that these revised new books will be implemented from 2084 BS.
Speaking at an interaction program on the theme “Coherence between children, curriculum and textbooks,” organized in the capital by Save the Children and the Education Journalist Group, Director General Poudel said that, during the textbook-writing process, discussions will be held with stakeholders and the writers will be oriented. He stated that while writing textbooks, unity within diversity will be sought, and special attention will be given to topics such as a sense of nationality, the role of citizens, and building a good society.
At the program, a micro-study report on the textbooks currently in implementation was presented on behalf of the Education Journalist Group. The study includes issues such as whether the textbooks are child-friendly and gender-friendly, how disability and sexual minority communities have been addressed, and how language has been used.
Hari Niraula, Deputy Director General of the Education and Human Resource Development Centre, said that the pluralistic nature of Nepali society should be reflected in the classroom. He shared that learning materials are developed through multiple stages by an expert team, and that efforts have been made to make each lesson inclusive.
Dr. Laxmi Poudel, Senior Program Development and Quality Advisor at Save the Children, discussed the gap between the curriculum and textbooks, and the problems seen at the implementation level. Arguing that textbooks have not been able to connect school and home, she expressed the view that supplementary learning materials should be developed to fill the shortage of books.
Educationist Dr. Vidyanath Koirala suggested that, before preparing textbooks, a list should be prepared of individuals who have made significant contributions to society. He said that, as needed, changes can be made to both the curriculum and the textbooks.
Nirjala Kakshapati, Chairperson of the Education Journalist Group, expressed commitment to compiling the suggestions that emerged from group discussions and submitting a report to the Curriculum Development Centre and the Education and Human Resource Development Centre. She expressed confidence that such suggestions would be useful in the development of future learning materials.
School News