Skills, safety & inclusion in new Balbharati textbooks

Pune: People of all complexion and abilities in pictures, gender equality, introducing tough science concepts from stories based on daily life, activity based mathematics, introduction to dialects in Marathi to make students aware and sensitive to those speaking it, phonetics in English and evaluations that test the learning outcomes rather than memory, are the changes introduced in the new Balbharati textbooks for Stds II, III, IV and VI.

The books also introduce age-appropriate lessons on good-bad touch, reassurance that children are not responsible for harassment or abuse, and information on trusted adults and child helpline numbers inside the covers of all textbooks.

For the first time, textbooks for work experience, sports and art education will also be introduced. While Std II, III and IV textbooks will be available for students by June 10, the Std VI textbooks will be available within 21 days of the school reopening when the students will undergo bridge course developed by SCERT, said Anuradha Oak, director of Balbharati at a press conference on Wednesday.

“This year we are introducing Malvani in Std VI for the first time in Marathi, along with Varhadi dialect. Every year, till Std XII, we will keep adding two dialects,” Savita Wayal, Marathi language expert at Balbharati said.

The approach to English learning emphasizes communication and self-expression rather than rote learning. “The Std VI textbooks include phonetics to support pronunciation and speaking skills. Students are encouraged to think critically and write creatively through activities such as book reviews, movie reviews, and news reports instead of just reading the text and answering questions from them,” Anagha Somwanshi, English language expert at Balbharati, said.

Helpline numbers, numbers of Telemanas and Manodarpan are on the back of the covers of all textbooks. Each textbook will have learning outcomes content mapped for that subject.

Oak said that Balbharati is also checking with NGOs and others if audio books can be made for students with disability.

“Unlike previous years when topics were directly introduced in science, now there is a story, may be of a child and his father exploring something and then the topic is introduced. Children are encouraged to think and deduce rather than directly being told what it is,” science teacher Sandeep said.

Something similar was done in mathematics textbook, said Balkrishna Mapari, mathematics expert, said.

Oak said people can bring up anything that has been missed or misrepresented so that it can be changed the next year.

“Maps carry a disclaimer that they are for the purpose of teaching children that subject or a topic so that people do not point out the difference in scale or other such technical issues,” Oak said