CBSE circular did not make NCERT books ‘mandatory’, publishers’ bodies clarify in a public awareness message

As the controversy over the directive to CBSE-affiliated schools to use only books published by NCERT blows over, Indian publishers’ bodies on 22 February 2017 issued that public awareness notification to school leaders, educationists, teachers, parents and students to clarify the finer details of the decision.

23 Feb 2017 | By Dibyajyoti Sarma

The message was signed by NK Mehta, president, Federation of Indian Publishers; SK Ghai, president, Federation of Educational Publishers in India; Sunil Sachdev, president, Federation of Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Associations in India; and Ratnesh Jha, vice-president, Association of Publishers in India.

According to the message, the CBSE in its circular No Acad-07/2017 of 14 February offered schools another facility to indent their requirement of NCERT books online in addition to their printed form in the past.

In the message, the associations stressed that the circular has been misinterpreted as it doesn’t mention that only NCERT books are mandatory for CBSE-affiliated schools. According to the message, the said circular was issued to get the requirement of NCERT textbooks for the academic year 2017-18. Online requests would be treated as school demands for NCERT books.

The message said buying books of good quality is an investment not only for a better future for children, their families and society, but also for the country at large, as good textbooks are one of the most textbooks are one of the most important pillars of education in the formative years.

It added that private publishers have been playing a significant role by providing high quality books. Private publishers employ and avail the services of the best of editors, graphic designers, renowned authors, digital content creators and developers as their commitment to create international quality books at lowest possible price.

The message noted that textbook prices in India are among the lowest in the world, even lower than some developing nations. It also added that the books education material developed by private publishers is made available on time across the country through a network of distributors and retailers.

Meanwhile, in a news report published in The Times of India last week, although the circular did not use the term ‘mandatory’, a senior CBSE official said the schools will have to take the ownership of subscribing to private publishers’ books. “We have given the link so that they can raise an online indent. Whether they comply or not will be their prerogative. But they will be answerable for any development thereafter,” the official was quoted as saying.