The removal of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution for Class 10 and Class 9 from the science textbooks has drawn the ire of more than 1,800 scientists, educators, and scientific enthusiasts from throughout India.
The letter, “An Appeal Against Exclusion of Evolution from Curriculum,” signed by representatives of eminent scientific organisations like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Technology, and Indian Institute of Science was included in a press release from the Breakthrough Science Society on April 20.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), a federal agency charged with advising the federal and state governments on school policy, carried out a syllabus rationalisation exercise to lighten the load on students.
As a result, “Heredity and Evolution,” chapter 9 of the science textbook, was changed to “Heredity.” The scientific community, on the other hand, considers the elimination of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution to be a ‘travesty of education,’ and contends that without exposure to this important scientific finding, pupils’ ability to think critically would be hampered.
According to the open letter, Darwin’s theory of natural selection teaches pupils the value of the scientific method and critical thinking, and the evolution process is essential for cultivating a scientific mindset and a realistic perspective.
Historians have previously challenged the erasure of essential scientific material, arguing that doing so deprives students of useful knowledge and the pedagogical principles necessary to handle future problems.
