Petition In SC Demanding "One Nation One Syllabus" For Children Aged 6-14 Years

A Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a common education system, i.e. common syllabus and common curriculum for all children aged 6 to 14 years.

The Petition, filed by Ms. Neeta Upadhyay who herself is an Assistant Teacher at a Primary School in Ghaziabad, contends that the current education system does not provide equal opportunity to all, defying the spirit of Article 16 and the Preamble of the Constitution of India.

"In expounding the Constitution to meet the requirements of Articles 21A read with Articles 14, 15, 16, 38(2), 39(f), 46 & 51A, measures such as a common education system viz. common syllabus and common curriculum is a necessity. It would enable every child to be placed on a level playing field for the challenges of the future and meaningfully contribute in achieving the great golden goals as set out in the Preamble," it submits.

The Petition contends that a "compulsory" education under Article 21A which "lacks in providing and executing an effective curriculum is worse than providing no education at all". Asserting that the right to education includes the idea of " equitable quality education", it seeks a common curriculum, in order to "bring equal opportunity and promote among them fraternity assuring dignity of individual, unity and national integration".

It further alleges that the multiple education board system is responsible for the disparity in the knowledge obtained by the children, and advocates for setting up public schools "where children of rich and poor are educated under one roof ".

"Sooner we realise the gravity of the situation and the ills that have been created due to multiple systems of education as currently prevalent in the country and introduce a common education system to meet national goals, the better it shall be for the future of the nation. Otherwise, chasm that has been created between rich and poor, reign of terror that has set in, events of looting and snatching that have started and crime against women that has taken the form of open threats will continue to rise and expand. Hence, to avoid an untoward situation, Executive must understand the need of common education system for all the children aged 6-14 years," it contends.

The Petition, therefore, demands a direction to the Centre to establish a “One Nation One Education Board” system, in substitution of the existing multi-board system. It also seeks a direction to introduce a common textbook with chapters on Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles and the Preamble of the Constitution of India, and make its study compulsory for all children aged 6 to 14 years.