Indian teachers call for replacement of dissections and animal experiments
22 November 2009
Indian teachers call for replacement of dissections
and animal
experiments; major financial investment in life science education
made
Indian university teachers meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan for a
national
alternatives conference have concluded with a call for full
replacement of
dissections and animal experiments.
In a Resolution (1)
adopted unanimously at the 'National Workshop cum
Symposium on Potential
Alternatives to Dissection and Animal
Experimentation in Zoology and the
Practical Curriculum', 19-21 November
2009, the participants called on
university Boards of Studies to remove
animal use from the syllabus.
With the main focus on zoology, teachers of anatomy, physiology and other
disciplines came from across Rajasthan and other states in India to learn
about alternatives and for hands-on practice with these innovative
learning
tools. The experience of curricular change internationally and
across the
country was shared in keynote, plenary and other presentations.
Participants
were joined by representatives from the government agency
that regulates
animal experimentation, the CPCSEA.
To support the process of replacement
with alternatives, learning tools
worth over Euro 100,000 were distributed by
the International Network for
Humane Education (InterNICHE) directly to the
participants and other
teachers. 75 sets of 15 alternative CDs and DVDs,
including advanced
anatomy software of the frog, dogfish, pigeon and
earthworm, and several
virtual physiology labs, were donated. Further
distribution will take
place across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and other
states, in what
comprises a major investment in Indian life science
education.
Published in the Souvenir were Statements of Support from the
Chief
Minister of Rajasthan, Mr Ashok Gehlot; from Mrs Maneka Gandhi, Chair
of
People for Animals and Member of Parliament; from Vice Chancellors of all
the major universities of Rajasthan; from Mr Anjani Kumar, Director Member
Secretary of the CPCSEA; from international organisations; and from
professors, researchers and religious bodies from across the country.
The
event is to be followed by a major international book, �Alternatives
to
Dissection and Animal Experimentation in Life Science Education,
Research and
Testing: A Manual for Universities and Colleges�, edited by B
K Sharma and N
Jukes � to be published in 2010.
Dr B. K. Sharma, Head of Zoology at R L
Saharia Government PG College,
Kaladera (Jaipur) (affiliated to the
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur) and
the Organising Secretary of this
UGC-sponsored National Workshop said, �We
are calling for a change in the
mindset of educators, education
administrators, policy makers and politicians
which should be followed by
major curricular transformation in zoology and
other fields where
defenceless animals are used. It has been decades since
the last
significant change, and we encourage all Boards of Study to meet on
a
regular basis to address the pressing need for replacement of dissection
and animal experiments.�
Prof M A Akbarsha from the Faculty of Animal
Science at Bharatidasan
University and the Chair of the Mahatma Gandhi
Doerenkamp Centre for
Alternatives to the Use of Animals in Life Science
Education, said, �The
evolution of zoology teaching and the growth of new
disciplines like cell
and molecular biology, genetics and biodiversity
studies has raised major
questions about the perceived importance and
relevance of dissection.
Instead of taking animals into the lab we should use
alternative
approaches, including respectfully studying them in their real
habitats.�
Prof K K Sharma, Prof and Head of Zoology at MDS University,
Ajmar, said,
�We are discouraging the use of dissection and are working
towards its
total removal by replacement with humane alternatives. Our future
zoologists are trained not through killing but with software and models,
and
the use of ethical fieldwork with a conservation and biodiversity
focus. It
is high time that we ask right across the country what is the
best way to
teach our students, and consider moving from dead biology to
live biology.�
Prof Reena Mathur from the Department of Zoology at University of
Rajasthan, Jaipur, and next year�s Head of Department, said, �We certainly
must stop all dissections and use alternative techniques to teach internal
morphology. As soon as I am Head I will ensure that this happens in my
Department through the Board of Studies and the UGC.�
Snehal Bhavsar,
Founder Trustee of the Gujarat Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to
Animals (GSPCA) and InterNICHE National Contact for India,
said, �Our
wildlife is a national treasure and its use for dissections and
animal
experiments in education is a scandal. I�m very happy that for the
first time
in northern India teachers have taken the initiative to get
together on one
platform and to call for full replacement. It is clear
that many zoology
teachers are strongly against animal use and in favour
of better teaching
methods.�
Nick Jukes, Co-ordinator of InterNICHE which sponsored the
conference and
provided the alternatives that were distributed, said, �With
widespread
replacement already achieved in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, the
momentum for
curricular change is growing fast. The conference in Jaipur made
clear the
commitment from teachers to best practice and humane education.
With
international published studies so clearly demonstrating the pedagogical
superiority of alternatives, I am confident that the remaining obstacles
to
modernisation will soon fall away.�
The event was sponsored by the
University Grants Commission (UGC),
Department of Science & Technology (DST),
InterNICHE and the International
Association Against Painful Experiments on
Animals (IAAPEA). The Marchig
Animal Welfare Trust helped fund the
distribution of alternatives.
Notes for editors:
(1)
Resolution
We the participants:
1. Recognise that animals are
sentient beings and that life in all its
forms should be fully respected
2. Recognise the pedagogical, ethical, environmental and economic
advantages of humane and innovative alternatives over harmful animal use
in
life science education and training
3. Join the global movement for
humane education and call for full
replacement of harmful animal use with
alternatives
4. Recognise the importance of effective and ethical
education and
training for future Indian professionals
5. Call on the
Government of India, CPCSEA, UGC, Academic Councils, Boards
of Studies and
educational institutes to work towards removing animal
experimentation and
the dissection of purpose killed animals from the life
science syllabus, to
develop and implement appropriate and effective laws,
regulations and
guidelines to bring about replacement, and to provide
support for the
implementation of alternatives
Nick Jukes
InterNICHE Co-ordinator
98 Clarendon Park Road
Leicester LE2 3AE
England
tel: +44 116 210 9652
e-mail:
coordinator@interniche.org
web: www.interniche.org
