The Delhi high court on Monday sought the Centre’s response on a plea for a uniform education system, common syllabus and common curriculum in the mother language, up to class 12 for all students in the country.
A bench of Acting chief justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla also sought response from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) while issuing notice on the petition by lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhayay.
“The counter affidavit should reflect the policy that the respondent has adopted and proposes to adopt in light of the decision of the Supreme Court (on common syllabus),” the court said while issuing notice.
The petitioner has claimed that different syllabus and curriculum by CBSE, ICSE and state boards is contrary to the Constitution and that Right to Education implies Right to Equal Education.
“Syllabus & curriculum is common for all entrance examinations viz. JEE, BITSAT, NEET, MAT, NET, NDA, CU-CET, CLAT, AILET, SET, KVPY, NEST, PO, SCRA, NIFT, AIEED, NATA, CEPT etc. But the syllabus and curriculum of CBSE, ICSE and State Board is totally different. Thus, students don’t get equal opportunity in spirit of Articles 14-16,” the petition has said.
The plea submitted that a common syllabus and curriculum in mother tongue will not only achieve the code of a common culture, remove disparity and discriminatory values but also enhance virtues and improve quality of life, elevate thoughts which advance constitutional goal of equal society.
The petitioner has, however, alleged that school mafias don’t want “One Nation-One Education Board”, coaching mafias don’t want “One Nation-One Syllabus” and book mafias don’t want NCERT books in all schools.
“Common syllabus and curriculum is essential for all as rights of children should not be restricted to only free and compulsory education, but must be extended to equal and quality education without discrimination on social-economic background, the plea read.
The matter would be heard next on 30 August.
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