Worrying Signs of a Setback

The global dissemination of evolutionary theory, a subject intertwined with both science and politics, is encountering increasing opposition worldwide. In various countries and contexts, Darwin's teachings have assumed diverse roles, but a growing trend sees resistance emerging on multiple fronts.

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In various countries and situations, Darwin's teachings have come to play many different roles – but now resistance is growing in several places.

Recent years have witnessed the removal of evolutionary theory from school curricula in several nations. Turkey, in 2017, prohibited its teaching in schools, citing its "controversial" and "difficult to understand" nature. Similarly, Saudi Arabia and several other Muslim-majority states have banned the theory. Algeria and Morocco impose significant restrictions on its instruction, although private, French-language schools in Morocco may still teach it.

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Turkey banned it in schools in 2017, citing that it is 'controversial' and 'difficult to understand.'

India took a notable step in 2023 by removing evolution from its standard curriculum, reclassifying it as an optional subject for higher grades. This mirrors a pattern observed in other countries where, although university-level teaching and research may continue, the theory is kept distant from the general public's worldview. While not every citizen needs to grasp all scientific findings, widespread ignorance regarding a fundamental concept like evolutionary theory is detrimental to public understanding. Historically, scientific discoveries often face initial protests but eventually become integrated into common knowledge, like the heliocentric model or atomic theory. Evolutionary theory, though complex, represents a similar progression in understanding the world.

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India removed it from the curriculum in 2023 and made it a voluntary subject for higher grades.