Kerala shows the a way to instill historical awareness and scientific thinking in children, says CM Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged teachers to adapt to the changing times. In picture, Vijayan and his Cabinet colleagues at an recent event at the Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode. (X)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, 26 February, criticised the BJP-led Union government for omitting significant historical and scientific facts from school textbooks, stating that the southern state shows a way of revising lessons to instill historical awareness and scientific thinking in children.

The Kerala model of public education is something of which the country can be proud, he said while virtually inaugurating 68 newly constructed school buildings across the state.

“The state government has taken steps to protect the public education system in Kerala,” he said.

“The Union government has been attempting to bring various changes to the education sector. The Centre has taken a stand that students need not learn about certain historical facts and events. They are now being removed from the textbooks. We cannot accept it,” Vijayan said.

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Key points

• Vijayan praises Kerala’s public education system as a model for the country.
• Highlights efforts to instill historical awareness and scientific thinking in children.
• Kerala government prioritises protecting and improving the quality of public education.
• Initiatives include revising lessons to include historical facts and events omitted by the Union government.
• Center’s attempt to remove the Gandhi assassination from textbooks opposed.
• Vijayan urges teachers to adapt to changing times.
• Over 10 lakh new students joined government schools in Kerala in the last seven years.
• More than 45,000 classrooms made hi-tech.
• ‘Vidyakiranam’ scheme to make digital education efficient.
• UNICEF has specially commended Kerala for its excellence in digital online education

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