Worksheets, digital study materials & PPTs: How Delhi schools are managing without NCERT books in Delhi

Pallavi Sharma, Principal of Mamta Modern School, Vikaspuri, said, “We have prepared worksheets and presentations to ensure there is no learning gap. Teachers are also counselling parents to reassure them that there is no need to panic.” Another principal of a private school said teachers have curated specific topics and developed worksheets to help students.

Principals also said that the bridge programmes, which cover essential topics from previous years while introducing key concepts for the current academic session, have come in handy.

To help students of class 5 and 8 transition smoothly, a one-month bridge programme was launched in March by the CBSE. The programme is designed to reinforce foundational concepts while preparing students for the updated curriculum, as per a CBSE circular. An existing bridge programme is underway for Class 6, the circular underlined.

Conceptual clarity through activities, discussions, and interactive engagement is also being encouraged in some schools.

Sudha Acharya, Principal of ITL Public School, Dwarka, said: “Teachers are not following syllabus chapterwise. Instead, they are focusing on conceptual understanding using an activities-based approach. For example, when teaching a topic like water, students first explore its sources, properties, and uses through discussions and experiments before moving to theory.”

Many schools have decided to hold orientation programmes for students and counselling sessions for parents.

Sharma said, “Parents get anxious. To address their concerns, we have planned an acclimatisation and orientation programme this week to explain how learning will continue, even without the textbooks.” When a similar issue emerged last year for class 6 and 8, it was handled in a “responsible manner and did not hamper examinations”, she added.

Assuming that there won’t be major changes in the new books, some schools are temporarily using last year’s books. “There are no major changes expected… there may be some parts that will be removed and some additions made. We are keeping in mind the syllabus outline and teaching with the available books,” said Bhumika Sharma, Vice-Principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Karawal Nagar.

However, parents have expressed apprehension. Aparjita Gautam, president of Delhi Parents’ Association, said, “This has happened several times before. There is a clear issue with book availability… How can books be delayed? Private publishers gain an advantage while NCERT books are delayed. This has left parents in a difficult position.”

Gaurav, a parent of a Class 8 student at Delhi Public School, Dwarka, said that even getting old NCERT books has become a challenge. “We purchased NCERT books from the school. Science and maths books were not available with the school vendor. Other NCERT books they gave to us are from older editions.”

“The teachers just say — ‘Books have changed, please buy.’ Whenever this issue comes up.. teachers ask us to take printouts. We have arranged old books for our daughter but teachers have also clearly informed us that the old ones are of no use,” said Shafali, mother of a Class 8 student at Maharaja Agrasen Model School, Pitampura.

Saying that it is a recurrent issue, the parent added, “Last year we faced the same problem…”