Parliament Question: Tropical Diseases in School Curriculum

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5007 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 Tropical Diseases in School Curriculum 5007. Md Abu Taher Khan: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is working on a proposal to make health education, focusing on tropical diseases like dengue, malaria, swine flu etc. as part of the syllabus in schools as well as in colleges; and (b) if so, the details thereof along with the time frame by which it is likely to be implemented? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) and (b): The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at para 4.24 provides that “Concerted curricular and pedagogical initiatives, including the introduction of contemporary subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Design Thinking, Holistic Health, Organic Living, Environmental Education, Global Citizenship Education (GCED), etc. at relevant stages will be undertaken to develop these various important skills in students at all levels.” In alignment with NEP, 2020, health Education has always been one of the focus areas of curriculum, syllabus and textbooks developed by the National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT). The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCF-SE 2023) recommends the importance of health and well-being of mankind. Keeping in view the mandate of NCF-SE 2023, NCERT has developed Science textbooks of Middle Stage (Grades 6 to 8). With respect to the proposal to make health education, focusing on tropical diseases like dengue, part of the syllabus in schools, the science textbooks of NCERT have included basic information about health and diseases. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formulated guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Students’ Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well-Being at Higher Educational Institutions of India. Further, the students can take Value added Courses (VAC ) courses on public health and tropical diseases as elective/ability enhancement courses. Through the Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) portal, there are several UGC recognized (Massive Open Online Courses) MOOCs pertinent to public health, tropical diseases, and health communication offered, which support enhancing students’ knowledge of disease prevention, tropical health issues and effective public health communication. *****