The Talk “Social Construction of Curriculum Case of Chhattisgarh” by Dr. Mahendra Kumar Mishra explores the interplay between social and school curricula, emphasizing the importance of integrating community knowledge into formal education. It highlights the disparity between village and school environments, where villages naturally accommodate diverse languages, ethnicities, and religions, while schools often fail to capture children’s cultural values and experiences. It discusses various educational theories, including traditional intellectuals, socio-behaviourists, experientialists, conciliators, and critical pedagogy, advocating for a curriculum that respects and includes diverse cultural backgrounds. It critiques the colonial mindset still present in education systems and calls for a democratic approach that values the contributions of marginalized communities.

Key points include:

• The need for a curriculum that shapes individual intellect, serves the state, and adapts to societal needs.
• The importance of community involvement in education and the role of teachers as researchers.
• The challenges of multilingual classrooms and the necessity of culturally inclusive education.
• The historical and socio-cultural context of Chhattisgarh, emphasizing the contributions of local knowledge and the need for educational reform.

His talk concluded with a call to balance attention between learners, subject matter, society, and teachers, and to foster a sustainable world through mutual harmony and respect for nature.