Kolkata: As Bengal turns into a battleground ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, speculations are rife over the possible winner. Meanwhile, ETV Bharat spoke to a section of the educationists about the probable impact on the curriculum if BJP comes to power in West Bengal. Whether BJP’s entry at the helm of power will have an inevitable impact on the syllabus.
In fact, traditional political forces in power in West Bengal tried to influence the syllabus or curriculum based on their definite political ideologies. After the Trinamool Congress regime came to power in West Bengal, a separate chapter on land movement, a key to the end of the 34- year old Left Front rule, was introduced in the school curriculum.
According to the educationist, Pabitra Sarkar, during the Left Front rule, the influence on school syllabus was not blatant since there were no separate chapters in Leftist movements nationally or globally.
“However, the Left regime was criticized for doing away with English as a subject for the first few years of a student’s career and later introduces English as a second language. Later English was introduced from the third standard. But that is all. But during the Trinamool Congress regime, the land movement in Singur was introduced as a separate chapter in the school curriculum. Now if BJP comes to power there is a high probability that subjects on Hindu mythology might be introduced in the curriculum,” he said.
According to him, how BJP tried to influence curriculum first became evident in 2001 when there was a coalition government at the Centre.
“At that point in time, UGC tried to introduce subjects like clergy or Vedic mathematics in college-level curriculum. But because of widespread protest, it was not successful. Now, research on Yoga is being conducted in AIMS. So if BJP comes to power in West Bengal, there is a high probability that such subjects would be introduced in the school curriculum. There will be more focus on Hindi and Sanskrit,” Sarkar said.
Educationist, Avik Majumdar however, rubbished criticisms against the decision to introduce land movement at Singur in the school curriculum.
“Land movement in Singur has been recognized by the Supreme Court of India. It has also been established that the law under which the erstwhile Left Front government acquired land at Singur was an archaic law of the British era. So those who are criticizing the chapter on the land movement in Singur are actually British supporters and also do not have any faith in the Supreme Court of India," he said.
"Now if BJP comes to power subjects like the use of cow urine to prevent coronavirus will be introduced. The education system in BJP- ruled states have ruined already. So I personally believe that the people of West Bengal will not make that mistake in bringing BJP to power in the state this time,” he said.
However, educationist and former principal of erstwhile Presidency College, Dr Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay said if BJP comes to power for the first five years they will not make any such attempt to change the curriculum.
“Even if BJP comes to power, it is unlikely that they will have a landslide majority. Moreover, there will be two opposition parties namely United Front and Trinamool Congress.
So it is unlikely that for the first five years there will be any attempt by BJP to change the curriculum. Rather they will do exactly the opposite of what Trinamool did in influencing school curriculum. The main aim of the BJP for the first five years will be to increase their popularity and fulfil the promises made. However, it is uncertain about what will happen after five years. However, BJP has already announced that they will introduce the new national education policy in West Bengal,” he said.
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