Scientists aghast as Darwin's theory removed from NCERT syllabus

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The scientific community has expressed serious dismay over the removal of the Darwinian theory of biological evolution from the 10th standard science syllabus as a part of ‘content rationalization’ by the NCERT. The move has sparked off resentment among the scientific community as Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most fundamental concepts in biology, and its exclusion can significantly hinder students' understanding of the subject.

Since the inception of Darwin's theory of natural selection, it has been widely accepted as a key principle of rational thinking that the biological world is continuously changing, and evolution is a law-governed process that does not require any divine intervention.

The theory has also helped establish that humans have evolved from some species of ape. The Breakthrough Science Society, a group of scientists, has expressed concerns that the removal of the theory from the curriculum will handicap students' thought processes and impair their understanding of essential scientific discoveries.

More than 1800 scientists, science teachers, and educators have signed an open letter to NCERT, demanding the reinstatement of Darwin's theory of evolution in Class 9 and 10 syllabi with appropriate importance. The open letter underlines that the exclusion of such a vital concept from the curriculum until Class 10 can be detrimental to the vast majority of students as only a small fraction chooses biology as a subject of study in Class 11 or 12.

Additionally, the concept of evolution is not just crucial for any subfield of biology, but it is also critical for understanding the world around us.The scientific community's concerns about the removal of Darwin's theory are legitimate, and its reinstatement in the syllabus with appropriate importance is necessary to ensure that students receive a comprehensive understanding of biology.