Recalibrating Science & Technology Education for Environmental Sustainability- Re-Orientation of Text Books

Abstract

Sustainability aims at keeping the future of civilisation and society alive. Science and Technology is a tool for this. India has a long tradition of science, education and now a vastly expanded technical education system. New Textbooks or Learning Materials-print or digital, are absolutely essential for this to fulfil particularly. SDG, as listed Globally or Nationally.

India’s ranking comes low in PISA, which is an International Students’ Evaluation for applying science education to real life problems, for school leaving students. Sustainability is linked to reality. In Global Institutional Ranking also India’s ranking is not high for the Universities. One of reason is improper learning materials, leading to unsustainability mindset.

This paper attempts to find the reasons the shortcomings. From experience, observation and study, the author has attempted to point out solutions in one major area, i.e., paradigm shifts required for text books on Science and Technology, particularly at middle school level and Technical Institutions. One of the major conclusion is that, it is important to change orientations of Indian books with clarity and lucidity, the sustainability concepts. Writing books by Indian teachers mostly and involving learned professors in writing texts will enhance the technical knowledge base of the students, increase their employability by clearing fundamental concepts and thus take India forward to a sustainable future as a whole. This will also enable inclusive education and will also enhance the ‘Make in India’ conceptual framework.