JAIPUR: Rajasthan has formed an autonomous State Council for Educational Research and Training ( SCERT ) in Udaipur, for writing content for state textbooks , curriculum design, teachers’ training and research on subjects, especially modern and ancient sciences. The constitution and functions of the body is similar to those of the NCERT. The move is aimed to expedite the process of research-based changes in the curriculum from the pre-primary to the senior secondary classes. The HRD ministry has approved the body last week.“This body will act independently like a university or the RBSE. This system will give more freedom for carrying out of revision of textbooks, research and training of teachers, which is a continuous process in the state,” said Vasudev Devnani, state education minister. State had courted controversy for revision of textbooks through the State Institute for Educational Research and Training (SIERT), which is part of the state government. Once the independent body SCERT will start functioning, the onus of changes made in the textbook will lie on the body and not on the government.The body will comprise of permanent employees, with a head of the director, followed by four joint directors — administration, schemes, training and syllabus. “Every joint director will have a team of subject professors, readers and assistant professors, along with admin staff, for carrying out work in their designated areas,” said an education department source. Government is expected to induct academicians loyal to their fold. Other than the content for textbooks, the body will also design the teachers’ learning material for 3.25 lakh teachers. “The most important part of the team, is to continue research in areas where it is required, like science, philosophy and ancient wisdom,” said Devnani.The budget for SCERT will be given by the central government and a portion of it will be funded by the state government.The new body will replace the existing, State Institute for Educational Research & Training (SIERT), in Udaipur. While SIERT members were appointed by the state government for a specific period of time, the members change only with the change in regime, under this body.

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