Panel member dissents, supports cartoons in NCERT textbooks

While the panel to examine the content of NCERT senior secondary textbooks has recommended removal of 21 cartoons, one of the members has filed a note of dissent.

Disagreeing with the rest of the six-member committee, Prof M S S Pandian from the Madras Institute of Development Studies has, in a separate report, emphasised that cartoons are a part of the learning process. He has also praised the NCERT textbooks for encouraging critical thinking in children.

NCERT sources confirmed that Pandian has sent a three-page report and note of dissent to NCERT director Prof Parvin Sinclair.

When contacted, Pandian declined to comment on the issue.

It is also learnt that Pandian has not signed the final report submitted by the committee headed by Prof S K Thorat. He was also reportedly unable to attend some meetings due to personal reasons.

On Friday, The Indian Express reported that the 30-page report submitted by the Thorat committee to HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Sinclair has recommended deletion of "inappropriate" cartoons and modification of cartoon captions.

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