A PIL has been filed in SC seeking uniform education system with common syllabus for all school children across the country in the age group of 6 to 14 years. The plea has sought directions to look into the feasibility of establishing “One Nation One Education Board” by merging the curriculum of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The plea has been filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey.

The plea has seeks possibility of introducing a standard textbook with chapters on fundamental rights, duties, directive principles of state policy and the Preamble, and making it compulsory for all children aged 6 to 14 years to study. It states that the Centre and states have not taken appropriate steps to introduce uniform education system with common syllabus and curriculum in spirit of Article 21A (free and compulsory education). It further states that it is necessary to have common syllabus in primary schools irrespective of its management or board.

“From last ten years data, it can be seen that even though children are pursuing free and compulsory education under RTE Act, the students do not perform well as compared to CBSE affiliated convent and private schools. Therefore, value-based uniform education having common syllabus and common curriculum is need of the day,” it said.

The petition has sought directions to ascertain the feasibility of constituting a National Education Council (on the lines of GST Council) or National Education Commission to implement the common syllabus system. It also suggests standardised entrance exam. “Since each education board has its own syllabus and curriculum and entrance examinations are based on CBSE, the education system does not provide equal opportunity to all students. State board students are not equipped to compete with students of CBSE affiliated schools. Even this disparity cannot be fully removed but Union can establish a standardised entrance system for college and university aspirants,” it states.

Source: NDTV and PTI

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