CBSE cuts syllabus by 30% for classes 9 to 12
CBSE cuts syllabus by 30% for classes 9 to 12
Source: THE HINDU
The Central Board of Secondary Education syllabus for classes 9 to 12 has been reduced by 30% this year due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, core concepts will be retained, according to Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.
In Class 12, the topic of India’s relations with its neighbours has been deleted, along with sections on social movements, regional aspirations, the changing nature of India’s economic development, and the Planning Commission. Business Studies students will not study the concept of demonetization, Goods and Services Tax, or the impact of government policy changes on business with special reference to liberalization, privatization and globalization in India. In History classes, students will not study chapters on understanding partition, or on peasants, zamindars and the State.
For Class 11 students, the core English course will not include exercises to write a letter to the editor, or apply for a job with a resume.
CBSE has advised school principals and teachers to ensure that “the topics that have been reduced are also explained to the students to the extent required to connect different topics. However the reduced syllabus will not be part of the topics for Internal Assessment and year-end Board Examination,” said an official statement.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training has provided inputs on how to teach this curriculum using different strategies, given the disruptions to regular classroom teaching caused by the pandemic. It has also prepared an alternative academic calendar for Classes 1 to 12 to support pedagogy in affiliated schools.
About 25 crore students have been affected since schools across the country closed in mid-March. With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, there is no indication on when schools will be able to reopen, so teaching and learning has been resumed via distance education methods including online classes, television and radio programmes, and even Whatsapp messages.
