London: Accusing the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government of "large scale tampering" with the educational curriculum, Human Resource Development, HRD Minister, Arjun Singh has said that the new Government would review the syllabi in the next eight to ten days to undo the damage.

"Unfortunately during the last four-five years, there has been a large-scale tampering with the syllabi. Therefore it is natural we would have to take a decision on the syllabi after a very careful consideration only. The review would be done in the next eight-ten days," Singh said participating in a BBC Hindi Special programme 'Aapki Baat BBC Ke Saath' broadcast last night (May 30, 2004).

He said that the new Government would find a way out and would stop attempts made by the previous Government for 'saffronisation' of education.

"During the previous Government's tenure, various Chief Ministers had raised the syllabi issue in the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE). Instead of addressing the Objections, the NDA Government chose to make CABE a defunct body, its meeting has not taken place during last four years," Singh said.

The HRD Minister said he was committed to restore the CABE, so that the "matters which used to be raised democratically, are once again done in the same manner".

"What I am saying is that the frequent changes in the syllabi for considerations other than strictly academic do not help. The experience of the NDA regime also clearly tells us this only. We would move forward with consultation, care and academic reasons would be priority for all purposes."