Education for Democracy in India: Educating every child for life in a democracy

Transcription

1 Education for Democracy in India: Educating every child for life in a democracy M.V.S.V. Prasad Asst. Professor (Political Science) Department of Education in Social Sciences National Council of Educational Research and Training New Delhi India 21 May 2012 (Mon)

2 Education for Democracy A work-in-progress Part of the core curriculum in the school education in India since Independence, for more than 60 years Major aim of the Secondary Education Commission, ( ): development of democratic citizenship Major theme of the social science textbooks brought out by the National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) and various State-level agencies at all stages of school education Textbooks at the primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary stages, contain generative topics that aim to promote critical understanding of democracy 2

3 Education for Promoting Democracy The culture of democracy or the democratic temperament must be imbibed by citizens from a very early age. They must become aware of both their rights as individuals, but also their responsibilities and obligations as citizens. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Hon ble Prime Minister of India, during the launch of the UNDEF in New York on 14 September

4 Syllabus & Textbooks Salient Features Based on the National Curriculum Framework, 2005 Civics recast as Social and Political Life at the Upper Primary Stage (Classes 6 8) Political Science at the Secondary Stage (Classes 9 10) Textbooks for consciousness-raising, that is, the process of making people aware of important social and political issues Set a trend in Citizenship Education Content is related to the student s everyday life Critical pedagogy Aim to promote Concept-based Teaching Activity-based Learning Ongoing Assessment 4

5 Syllabus & Textbooks Salient Features Learners are initiated into a deeper understanding of idea and practice of democracy in contemporary India and different parts of the world Focus on the foundations of the Indian Constitution, i.e. in-depth discussion of justice, liberty, equality, fraternity Discussions from multiple perspectives, including those of the women, minorities, disabled and other disadvantaged sections 5

6 Syllabus & Textbooks Salient Features Case studies and examples from real life Literary elements: Poems, novels, short stories Visual elements: cartoons (Indian & foreign), maps, movies, newspaper clippings & collages, photos, posters Unni Munni comments / queries / dialogues 6

7 Social and Political Life I, II, III 7

8 Class VI Social and Political Life I Theme: Diversity and Interdependence 1 Understanding Diversity 2 Diversity and Discrimination 3 What is Government? 4 Key Elements of a Democratic Government 5 Panchayati Raj 6 Rural Administration 7 Urban Administration 8 Rural Livelihoods 9 Urban Livelihoods 8

9 Class VII 1 On Equality Social and Political Life II Theme: Democracy and Equality 2 Role of the Government in Health 3 How the State Government Works 4 Growing up as Boys and Girls 5 Women Change the World 6 Understanding Media 7 Understanding Advertising 8 Markets around Us 9 A Shirt in the Market 10 Struggles for Equality 9

10 Class VIII Social and Political Life III Theme: Rule of Law and Social Justice 1 The Indian Constitution 2 Understanding Secularism 3 Why Do We Need a Parliament? 4 Understanding Laws 5 Judiciary 6 Understanding Our Criminal Justice System 7 Understanding Marginalisation 8 Confronting Marginalisation 9 Public Facilities 10 Law and Social Justice 10

11 Democratic Politics I and II 11

12 Class IX Democratic Politics I 1 Democracy in the Contemporary World 2 What is Democracy? Why Democracy? 3 Constitutional Design 4 Electoral Politics 5 Working of Institutions 6 Democratic Rights 12

13 Class X Democratic Politics II 1 Power-sharing 2 Federalism 3 Democracy and Diversity 4 Gender, Religion and Caste 5 Popular Struggles and Movements 6 Political Parties 7 Outcomes of Democracy 8 Challenges to Democracy 13

14 Democratic Politics The Class IX Textbook, Democratic Politics I begins with detailed case studies of Chile and Poland, both members of the Community of Democracies (CD). This textbook and the Class X Textbook, Democratic Politics II also refer to other CD members such as the USA, South Africa, Mexico, Canada, and democratic leaders from the CD members such as Abraham Lincoln, Lech Walesa, Martin Luther King, Jr., Michelle Bachelet, Nelson Mandela, Oscar Arias Sanchez, and Rosa Parks. 14

15 Education for Human Rights Fundamental Rights Directive Principles of State Policy Civil and Political rights Economic, Social and Cultural rights: Right to Education, Food, Water The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity & Ors v State of West Bengal (1996) Olga Tellis & Ors v Bombay Municipal Council (1985) Rights of SCs / Dalits (SC / ST Act) Rights of STs / Adivasis (Forest Rights Act) Rights of Minorities (Religious / Linguistic) Rights of Women Rights of the Disabled Rights of Children 15

16 Education for Human Rights Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, Tagore Civil Rights Movement (USA) Solidarity Movement (Poland) Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma / Myanmar), Wangari Maathai (Kenya) Struggles against Discrimination (South Africa): Case Studies from real life: Omprakash Valmiki (Joothan) Hector Pieterson and Hastings Ndlovu (Soweto Uprising) Hakim Sheikh (Right to Health) Sudha Goel (Dowry death victim) Extraordinary Women: Pandita Ramabai (Pune) Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (Sultana s Dream) Rashsundari Devi Laxmi Lakra (train driver from Jharkhand) Satya Rani (mother of a dowry victim) 16

17 Political Science Textbooks Class XI 17

18 Class XI Indian Constitution at Work Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Constitution: Why and How? Rights in the Indian Constitution Election and Representation Executive Legislature Judiciary Federalism Local Governments Constitution as a Living Document The Philosophy of the Constitution 18

19 Class XI Political Theory Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Political Theory: An Introduction Freedom Equality Social Justice Rights Citizenship Nationalism Secularism Peace Development 19

20 Political Science Textbooks Class XII 20

21 Class XII Contemporary World Politics Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 The Cold War Era The End of Bipolarity US Hegemony in World Politics Alternative Centres of Power Contemporary South Asia International Organisations Security in the Contemporary World Environment and Natural Resources Globalisation 21

22 Class XII Politics in India since Independence Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Challenges of Nation-Building Era of One-Party Dominance Politics of Planned Development India s External Relations Challenges to and Restoration of the Congress System The Crisis of Democratic Order Rise of Popular Movements Regional Aspirations Recent Developments in Indian Politics 22

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25 Right to Water: Issues of daily life 25

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27 Laxmi Lakra: A Remarkable Journey 27

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29 Unni Munni 29

30 Unni Munni All this is so remote for me. Is democracy all about rulers and governments? Can we talk about a democratic classroom? Or a democratic family? I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam s class! That sounds like a democratic classroom. Doesn t it? 30

31 (Ab)use of Authority (Social and Political Life III, Storyboard, p. 7) 31

32 Role-play by Teacher-Participants NCERT Orientation Programme about New Textbooks May 2008, RIE, Ajmer, Rajasthan 32

33 Secularism in India Rights of Minorities (Social and Political Life III, Storyboard, p. 23) 33

34 Role-play by Teacher-Participants NCERT Orientation Programme about New Textbooks May 2008, RIE, Ajmer, Rajasthan 34

35 Other Institutions National Book Trust Indian editions of UNESCO Publications National Human Rights Commission Publications Election Commission of India Election Commissions of different States and Union Territories National Voter s Day (January 25) Awareness Campaign 35

36 Which Scope? 36

37 Focus on Focus on the whole world... Or just on your nation. Focus on the whole nation Or just on your State. Focus on the whole State Or just on your district. Focus on the whole district Or just on your locality. 37

38 Perspectives about Curriculum and Pedagogy Macro Bird s eye view Broad General Global More complex? Micro Worm s eye view Narrow Specific Local Less complex? 38

39 Multiple Approaches to Education for Democracy Culture of democracy, deliberative democracy, dignity Partnership between government and civil society organizations Move from theory to Action Decentralization of Democracy Education: From airbus to bus Open Government: Feel the democracy! Democracy for all, not just for some Collaborative exercises in developing the Teaching-Learning Materials and Training of Educators 39

40 Kahlil Gibran ( ) Lebanese-American Poet Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday

41 Thank you for your kind attention! 41