Over 1,800 teachers, educators, scientists, and science enthusiasts from all over India have raised their voices against the exclusion of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution from science textbooks for classes 9 and 10. The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) had mandated the central and state governments to reduce the syllabus to ease the burden on students post the pandemic, resulting in the omission of several important chapters from different subjects, including significant events from Indian history, including those related to Mahatma Gandhi.
The science textbook ‘Heredity and Evolution’ has been replaced with ‘Heredity,’ which has sparked concern among the scientific community. The experts have expressed apprehension about removing such a crucial theory from the curriculum that might handicap students’ thought process and impact their scientific temperament.
Charles Darwin. Credits – Career360.
The open letter, titled ‘An Appeal Against Exclusion of Evolution from Curriculum,’ was released on April 20 by the Breakthrough Science Society. The letter emphasizes that an understanding of the process of evolution is critical in building a scientific temper and a rational worldview. It goes on to state that Darwin’s theory of natural selection has been the cornerstone of rational thinking since its proposal, and it is a law-governed process that does not require divine intervention. The letter also highlights the importance of critical thinking and how the process of science is taught through Darwin’s observations and insights leading to the theory of natural selection.
NCERT removes Darwin's Evolution Theory from text books. #Darwin pic.twitter.com/lJiQLijwdJ
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) April 25, 2023
The scientific community is concerned that the students will not receive complete information about the fundamentals of science with the selective information that they will receive as a result of the removal of such a crucial theory. The appeal by the Breakthrough Science Society has garnered significant support from the scientific community and aims to encourage the NCERT to reconsider their decision regarding the removal of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution from the curriculum.
