'NE figures in school text books'
TSE/NEW DELHI, Dec 15:

Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha question said contents about various aspects of the North Eastern region have been included in the textbooks of Social Science such as History, Geography and Political Science published by National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) viz classes VII, IX, X and XII History, classes VI to XII Geography and classes VI, VIII to XII Political Science.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) prescribes the curricula based on NCERT textbooks. The Board has also approved the project based learning in contexts of the North East States, Value Education Kit for creating awareness and sensitivity regarding North East students, Heritage India Quiz based on the rich heritage of the North East and Science exhibition focused in and around the situation particular to North Eastern region like bio-diversity.

The University Grant Commission (UGC) has advised the universities to incorporate novels/short stories from the North East, history of North East including personalities who participated in anti-colonial uprisings as well as freedom movement, the Minister stated.

UGC also advised students from the other parts of the country to spend some time in the North East so as to understand and appreciate the culture of the region. Besides, regular cultural exchange between institutions in the North East and other areas need to be built in higher education system in the universities.

The North East Zone Cultural Centre, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture also organizes various programmes under its scheme namely, National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP) for awareness about the culture of the North Eastern Region.