The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations  (CISCE) has decided to reduce the syllabus by 25 percent for the 2020-21 academic year due to the “significant shortening of the academic year and loss of the instructional hours” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press release by the board, “While a number of CISCE affiliated schools have tried to adapt to this changed scenario and have tried to keep alive the teaching learning process through online classes, there has been a significant shortening of the academic year and loss of the instructional hours.”

It further added that “to make up for the loss in instructional hours during the current session 2020-2021”, the CISCE has worked with its subject experts to reduce the syllabus for all major subjects for classes 10 and 12.

The circular also added that “heads of CISCE-affiliated schools have been asked to ensure that the concerned subject teachers at the ICSE and ISC levels transact the syllabus strictly according to the sequence of topics given in the syllabus, so as to facilitate the further reduction in the syllabus, if required, depending on the situation of the pandemic in the country.” 

The “syllabus reduction has been done keeping in mind the linear progression across classes while ensuring that the core concepts related to the subject are retained,” stated the Council. For the CISCE to reduce syllabus by 25 percent, the board has directed all its schools to ensure that the subject teachers go by the syllabus strictly.

The Council announced that the assessment scheme for pending class 10 and 12 exams, which have been cancelled will be based on three parameters — best of three marks, percentage subject project work, and subject project. Students will get an average of the best three percentage marks obtained from among the subjects for which board exams have been conducted.

CISCE chief executive and secretary Gerry Arathoon said that there might be a fifty percent reduction in syllabus as well if the conditions do not improve in the coming months. He said, “Given the academic loss till July, which is around 45 days we have reduced the syllabus for the students appearing for Class 10 and 12 Boards up to 25 pc. However, that is subject to further review as from July first week our schools are only able to resume online classes. This could have further adverse effects. We may even have to reduce the syllabi further and may even have to go up to 50 per cent reduction.”

Source: NDTV & Times Now

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