TS Telugu books to follow print media lang

Hyderabad: School textbooks and curriculum in Telangana State is all set for a major revamp. Post bifurcation, the Telangana government appointed subject wise review committee for Telugu and Social Studies in order to propagate the State culture, history, literature etc in school textbooks.

• Major revamp with local flavour in school textbooks
• Committee submitted report two weeks ago
• Govt retains AP syllabus

Based on the guidelines recommended by the committee, Telangana State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is preparing chapters in Telugu and Social Studies.The subject committee has decided to use print media language as a different dialect is seen in 10 districts of Telangana.

“Only specific words will be retained and rest will be in print media language,” a senior official of SCERT said. The committee had already submitted its guidelines for revamping the curriculum two weeks ago. It met twice before finalising the guidelines which touched upon local cultures in districts, festivals, tourist places and eminent poets etc.

“Every district has a history and it was neglected by successive governments in united Andhra Pradesh. The new textbooks will have more local touch and is meant for the Telangana people. Bathukuamma (flower festival), traditions of tribals will come up,” Chukka Ramaiah, eminent educationist and committee member said.

An SCERT official, who is part of the revamp, informed that the government has decided to retain eminent poets like Nannaya and Tikkana from Andhra Pradesh in Telugu and a few important incidents in social studies.

While the Telangana government has retained a few important topics in the textbooks, it should meet the guidelines of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). According to the guidelines, language textbooks should have 60 per cent local content and 40 per cent related to the neighbouring states. However, it is learnt that government has stressed more than the required per cent of the local content in the textbooks.

An official of SCERT said that presently the council has been working on guidelines given by the expert committee. “Local poets, writings of eminent personalities like C Narayana Reddy, Suddala Hanmanthu and other important things pertaining to 10 districts are being incorporated from class III to X in Telugu textbooks. Biographies of Prof. Jaya Shankar, Doddi Komaraiah Komaram Bheem and Bhagya Reddy Varma are likely to be added in Telugu books.

“A separate lesson on Telangana Sayudha Poratam is being planned in history,” an official informed.