Ayurveda, yoga enter CISCE curriculum

Kolkata: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has introduced ayurveda and yoga as topics in environmental science for classes IX and X. The council has developed resource material for ICSE environmental science at the secondary level, making the subject more engaging and transformative.In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the council has focused on Indian Knowledge Systems and practices, which refer to the traditional knowledge and practices developed over centuries in India. These include fields such as philosophy, science, arts, and culture. Under this segment, ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine that uses herbs and natural remedies, has been included. Yoga has also been added as a practice that promotes overall wellness. The course material explains that yoga is "not just flexibility or asanas; it is much more than that, and this needs to be made clear with support from ancient facts about yoga, connecting it to today's lifestyle changes." The curriculum also includes medicinal plants, with a table listing various Indian and global medicinal plants and their uses. It further covers topics related to water conservation, biodiversity, ecosystems, and several other areas.Chief executive and secretary Joseph Emmanuel said, "This resource material has been thoughtfully developed to support schools and teachers in delivering environmental science as an engaging and transformative learning experience. Aligned with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, it integrates diverse topics and subtopics related to environmental awareness and critical thinking. Topics such as the social and economic consequences of unsustainable development, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and practices like ayurveda, yoga, water conservation, the trajectory of human development, the impact of the Triple Planetary Crisis (TPC), sustainable handprint actions, and many others have been thoughtfully included, with a well-defined scope and progression, to provide a comprehensive and coherent learning framework."Several school principals said they had already incorporated practices like yoga as part of physical education. Now, students will study these topics in greater detail. Mousumi Saha, principal of National English School, said, "We have yoga classes for students, but when it is included in the curriculum, students will take it more seriously. Moreover, many relevant topics have been included, which I think students need to learn." Rodney Borneo, principal of St Augustine's Day School, Shyamnagar, said it is a welcome move by the council and that students will learn many things that will lead them towards experiential learning. Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission School, said, "There is a trend of bringing back traditional Indian civilisation, which has become very popular. Ayurveda, yoga, traditional crops, and medicinal plants are all part of the rich Indian tradition, which will also be covered through this."
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