Reshma Ravishanker

The Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) today announced a reduction in the syllabus for students in class 10 (state board) in the wake of late commencement of schools for the current academic year.

Schools have received the revised syllabus with reductions made in all subjects to help class 10 students. The decision comes after several representations were made to the education department by parents and school representatives citing that completing the syllabus entirely would not be feasible.

DSERT has said that the decision was made as schools are lagging behind with the completion of syllabus as full day classes commenced only from October 4 although classes commenced in schools across the state from August 23 onwards. Moreover, with just in-person classes being held for most of the previous academic year, the learning loss among students has also been taken into account while reducing the syllabus.

In October 2021, the Associated Managements of Private Schools in Karnataka had written to the minister for primary and secondary education, B C Nagesh seeking a syllabus reduction as the government permitted commencement of classes late and gave insufficient time for bridge courses.

During the previous academic year, the syllabus was reduced by 30 % to lessen the burden on students. This year, although the circular does not specify the extent of reduction, officials in the education department said that it was close to a 20 % reduction.

D Shashi Kumar, “We requested 30 %. Most of the syllabus has been completed in a hurry. Even the 20 % will help a lot especially in mathematics and social studies. Teachers are also finding it difficult to complete syllabus otherwise it will just be name-sake teaching. We have asked for the elimination of subjects which have no future applications. For 37 lessons are included in social science texts. Will all of it serve a purpose?”  

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