HRD Appeals NCERT to Popularise Sanskrit

In a move to popularise Sanskrit in schools, HRD ministry appealed to NCERT and also to train five lakh Sanskrit teachers in the next three to four years under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

NCERT has been asked to submit a status report within three months on the implementation of the three-language formula in secondary schools and the two-language formula in higher secondary schools.

The ministry has also asked to collect data on the number of sanctioned posts of teachers in every state, a number of posts filled and the number of vacant posts in all government schools aided schools and private.

NCERT has been told that its report should indicate which three languages are being offered in schools, the classes covered, how many periods and marks are allotted to Sanskrit and other nine languages.

"This will help students of Sanskrit to utilise the online resource as well as understanding their course content and Sanskrit in a constructive environment," said a spokesperson of the ministry.

• The report should also look into whether Sanskrit is being offered for students in all three streams — arts, science, and commerce.
• The report will also provide information on Sanskrit textbooks followed by all classes in different states, with special emphasis on when they were prepared and revised.
• NCERT and SCERTs will have to ensure that free tutorials for all Sanskrit textbooks are available online.