A renowned educationist, Prof. Anita Rampal (b.1954) pursued her M.Sc. (1975) and PhD in Physics (1982) from the University of Delhi. She was Professor of Elementary and School Education in the Department of Education, University of Delhi for around two decades until recently. She also served as Dean, Faculty of Education at the university. Earlier, she was with Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (1983-1990).
She was a Fellow (1987-1991) and later UGC Research Scientist (1991-2002) at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, and held the Nehru Professor Chair at the University of Baroda. Prof. Anita Rampal has been a Fellow of ARENA (Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives, established in Hong Kong, 1983) founder-member, Global University for Sustainability, 2016, and is member-at-large of ICMI (International Commission on Mathematical Instruction), 2017-2020.
Prof. Anita Rampal has worked for the last four decades towards better mathematics and science education in India. She worked with school teachers at the grassroots in rural schools and devised various child-centered curricula, teaching learning materials and teaching strategies. Her research interests include curriculum studies, curriculum development for formal and non-formal education systems with a focus on critical pedagogy, policy analysis for equity in education, science studies, cognition and culture in science and mathematics education, teacher education, elementary education, literacy and human development.
Prof. Rampal was one of the core experts that worked with the NCERT towards the development of the National Curriculum Framework 2005, and has similarly been a member of several national policy level committees in the areas of school, teacher and higher education. A staunch vocalist of the Right to Education Act (RTE), Prof. Anita Rampal was Hon. Director of the National Literacy Research Centre and was associated with the Hoshangabad science teaching programme, the national literacy campaign and the people’s science movement.
She has published several articles, reports and co-authored books such as Public Report on Basic Education (PROBE), Numeracy Counts, and Zindagi Ka Hisab. Being associated with NCERT, Prof. Rampal initiated publications of many NCERT textbooks such as Math-Magic, Rimjhim, Around Us, etc. She has also produced films on women’s education and participation.
About the Collection: The papers contain a set of statewise NCERT model textbooks (1960-2014) drafted for different disciplines and standards in Hindi, English, and vernacular languages. Also includes, Government of India’s publications on Education, NCERT Report on National Curriculum, and sample textbooks of Biology for Higher Secondary Schools. (Catalogue available)
Donor: Anita Rampal
Acquisition: 2018