Kerala set to launch revised school textbooks as part of curriculum reform

Thiruvananthapuram: Curriculum reform activities being implemented in state's public education sector are moving towards completion, said education minister V Sivankutty on Sunday. As part of this, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will release the revised textbooks and inaugurate its state-level distribution on April 23.

"This is a historic moment for state public education department. It is a matter of joy for all of us that revised textbooks for X grade were successfully delivered to schools and distributed to students before the completion of IX grade exams," said Sivankutty.

Textbooks were revised last year for grades I, III, V, VII and IX. Those being revised this year are for grades II, IV, VI and VIII and these will be distributed at the event. In total, 238 titles for grades I, III, V, VII and IX and 205 titles for grades II, IV, VI, VIII and X have been revised over two years.

As part of this reform, special books titled "Healthy Kids" for physical education and yoga training for students from grades I to X as well as special textbooks for arts and vocational education have been prepared and distributed to schools, said the minister.

"A total of 38 million textbooks need to be distributed in the state. Printing of these textbooks is nearing completion and all textbooks will reach the schools by May 10. To ensure effective teaching of the revised curriculum and textbooks, the public education department has decided to organise a five-day training programme for all teachers in the state starting May 13," he said.

Comprehensive quality education programme

"Under the public education department's leadership, the comprehensive quality education programme implemented in schools across the state is progressing well with the introduction of the minimum mark system from this year. Teachers, students, parents, and the general community, including local self-govt institutions in Kerala, have embraced this programme with great enthusiasm," said Sivankutty.

Reports from all districts in Kerala indicate that the community is providing significant support for this programme, he said. "Education officers and Samagra Shiksha Kerala are providing substantial support to the learning support classes led by teachers. Comprehensive reform activities are being planned for the next academic year to ensure that every student in our schools achieves their basic competencies, thereby ensuring the quality of our school education," he added.