<![CDATA[ Rajasthan Govt Schools Lack Art Education Books Despite Mandatory Subject, RTI Reveals ]]> Although Art Education continues to be one of the mandatory courses till Class 10 in government schools in Rajasthan, a latest RTI response has brought out some alarming facts about how the course is being taught at schools.

As revealed by the School Education Department through an RTI, there are no textbooks or curriculum guidelines defined for Art Education for classes 1 to 8 in Rajasthan government schools. As against other subjects like Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies, which have syllabi prepared on the basis of NCERT books, the teaching of art education seems to be unstructured.

According to the response provided on April 27, Art Education course has been left out of the list of prescribed textbooks for class 6 to 8 for the academic year 2026-27. The only textbook specified is 'Kala Kunj' which applies to classes 9 & 10.

According to sources, the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), Udaipur, also does not seem to have any records relating to the mandatory teaching of art subjects like painting and music at classes 1 to 8.

It is all the more important considering the huge investment that has been made by the government into the infrastructure for art education over the years. From 2010-11 to 2024-25, the Rajasthan government has sanctioned and built a total of 5,713 art and craft rooms in the government secondary and senior secondary schools, costing nearly Rs 418 crores.

Mahesh Gurjar, RTI activist, wondered how a mandatory course could survive without having proper materials for study or well-trained faculties. As he argued, art teacher positions have ceased to exist since 1992, and no recruits have been taken since then.

Gurjar added that despite lacking classroom teaching facilities, students continue to be assessed in Art Education. He said that lakhs of students are given marks in drawing and music subjects but do not receive adequate class teachings.

Teachers working in the government schools raised similar concerns. An experienced teacher from Jaipur mentioned that even those students who want to pursue this course find themselves unable to do so due to lack of materials and trained teachers.

Even after several inquiries, no responses were given by officials of the education department.

The RTI findings have once again brought attention to the gap between policy and implementation in school education, especially in subjects linked to creativity and holistic learning.

]]> en Fri, 05 22, 2026 11:00 am <![CDATA[ Rajasthan Govt Schools Lack Art Education Books Despite Mandatory Subject, RTI Reveals ]]> Although Art Education continues to be one of the mandatory courses till Class 10 in government schools in Rajasthan, a latest RTI response has brought out some alarming facts about how the course is being taught at schools.

As revealed by the School Education Department through an RTI, there are no textbooks or curriculum guidelines defined for Art Education for classes 1 to 8 in Rajasthan government schools. As against other subjects like Science, Mathematics, and Social Studies, which have syllabi prepared on the basis of NCERT books, the teaching of art education seems to be unstructured.

According to the response provided on April 27, Art Education course has been left out of the list of prescribed textbooks for class 6 to 8 for the academic year 2026-27. The only textbook specified is 'Kala Kunj' which applies to classes 9 & 10.

According to sources, the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), Udaipur, also does not seem to have any records relating to the mandatory teaching of art subjects like painting and music at classes 1 to 8.

It is all the more important considering the huge investment that has been made by the government into the infrastructure for art education over the years. From 2010-11 to 2024-25, the Rajasthan government has sanctioned and built a total of 5,713 art and craft rooms in the government secondary and senior secondary schools, costing nearly Rs 418 crores.

Mahesh Gurjar, RTI activist, wondered how a mandatory course could survive without having proper materials for study or well-trained faculties. As he argued, art teacher positions have ceased to exist since 1992, and no recruits have been taken since then.

Gurjar added that despite lacking classroom teaching facilities, students continue to be assessed in Art Education. He said that lakhs of students are given marks in drawing and music subjects but do not receive adequate class teachings.

Teachers working in the government schools raised similar concerns. An experienced teacher from Jaipur mentioned that even those students who want to pursue this course find themselves unable to do so due to lack of materials and trained teachers.

Even after several inquiries, no responses were given by officials of the education department.

The RTI findings have once again brought attention to the gap between policy and implementation in school education, especially in subjects linked to creativity and holistic learning.

]]> News 2 Fri, 05 22, 2026 11:00 am