Tag: NCERT

‘Syllabus Change Is Fine, But It Will Affect Those Sitting For Competitive Exams’

By LokMarg

Aditya Tripathi, an educator in Uttar Pradesh, says the syllabus revision should have also taken on board other institutions that hold competitive exams post-Class X and XII. His views:

The NCERT syllabus has been revised with an aim to reduce the burden on the students of Class 10 and 12. You can hear voices in the media from academic and political circles criticizing this move. I shall not like to comment on that part of it because when you see anything from a political lens, there will always be differences of opinion. My concerns here will be limited only to how this move impacts the students and their parents.

The major concern is that most students appear for competitive examinations after clearing their board exams, that is Grade 10 and 12. There is no clarity if the competitive authorities holding exams will take into account the changes made in school syllabus while framing their set of question papers. So, in my opinion the NCERT officials should have resolved this factor before revising the curriculum, or timed it better.

School syllabus is so intrinsically interrelated that even a small change can upset the carefully laid applecart. Take, for example the syllabus of Chemistry. Subjects like Polymer Chemistry and Structure of Solid form a major chunk of questions in competitive examinations. These two subjects have been removed from the studies now. This leaves the students with no options than to join a coaching institute or hire a tutor to study the deleted parts.

ALSO READ: ‘School Syllabus Isn’t A Holy Book Cast In Stone’

Thus while the objective of reducing the burden (of class 10th and 12th students) is served by the revision, it has also created confusion among students whether the competitive exams will also follow the new structure. There is no clarity if the deletions will also be applicable to various entrance examinations to reputed institutions. Thus, ideally the deletions should have been comprehensive, covering the scope of various competitive exams and by taking everyone on the board.

This syllabus revision has also come as an additional burden on the parents who have to pay several lakhs to dummy/integrated schools, coaching classes and private tuitions to bridge the gap. Though boards like CBSE do not recognize or list dummy schools, but parents do not have a choice in this matter. Already, I am receiving queries from many parents for `remedies’ but I am myself still dumb stuck as there is little clarity on the subject.

The second matter of concern is the examinations of current academic session (2023–24) for which the dates have been revised to Feb–March 2024. It will be a Herculean task to complete the syllabus with the new changes, prepare the students for taking examinations. As far as I can perceive, the rescheduling of the examination dates have been done so as not to clash with the upcoming general elections scheduled in May next year.

Overall, I somewhat agree with the justification of the NCERT that the difficulty level of the new content is not very high, and the same can be learnt by students without intervention from the teachers. I have always been of the view that with the advancement of students to higher classes, the interference of teachers in the learning process should gradually decrease.

(The narrator has been a teacher at a Kota institute and is currently the Principal of Amarnath Inter College)

As told to Rajat Rai

‘School Syllabus Isn’t A Holy Book Cast in Stone; It Needs Periodic Revisions’

By LokMarg

Sarika Kansal, 44, a senior teacher with a reputed school in Greater Noda West, says NCERT syllabi require regular amendments to stay relevant to the changing times. Her views:

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently made some changes in the curriculum of certain subjects. These changes have drawn mixed reactions from the academia across the country. While some teachers consider it to be a positive step towards rationalization of school learning, others believe that it may have a negative impact on the students’ overall learning experience. 

One of the major changes that have been made in the NCERT syllabus is the reduction in the number of chapters in certain subjects like Science and Social Science. This has been done to make the syllabus more concise, relevant, and easier for the students to follow. I welcome this progressive and holistic change, as I believe that it will help students focus better on the key concepts and principles of these subjects. 

Another significant change that has been introduced is the inclusion of chapters on new and relevant topics, such as sustainable development, gender equality, and mental health, in subjects like Civics and Psychology. This change has been drawn positive response from the majority of teachers. I believe that it will help students develop a more inclusive understanding of society and the world around them. It will not only help students become more aware and sensitive to social issues but also enable them to become responsible citizens of the country. 

Kansal welcomes new changes in NCERT syllabi

Some teachers have raised concerns over the NCERT’s decision to remove certain chapters and topics from the syllabus, as they believe that it would deprive students of an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. Many teachers feel that certain crucial topics must be a part of the curriculum, even if they appear to be complex or challenging, as these topics can help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

ALSO READ: Periodic Table Not Removed, Only Moved To Class IX: NCERT

Some teachers have noted that the NCERT curriculum’s latest changes may lead to an overemphasis on memorizing facts and information, rather than understanding and applying them. They fear that the reduction in the number of chapters may lead to a shift towards learning by rote, which could do more harm than good to students’ learning and development. 

I personally believe that education and learning must remain conscious of the new changes being brought in society as well as new advancements in the field of science and technology. School syllabus cannot be a Holy Scripture cast in stone. It has to be revised periodically to suit and serve new realities. Overall, the NCERT’s latest changes in the syllabi are also part of this continuous process of revision.

addition, NCERT is open to feedback and suggestions from teachers and other stakeholders. Those who do not subscribe to the changes brought in can register their differences via media and social media and generate a debate or discussion. This is how academic sector works. Consequently, proper steps need be taken to ensure that the revised curriculum is student-friendly, socially relevant, and effective. 

As told to Deepti Sharma