Self Study ? - What did the HRD Minister say...

At this time, when everyone is suggested to maintain social distancing, students of class 10 should start self-study at their homes. They should understand the value of this time as they have entered an important phase of their academic life. They will appear for their first ever CBSE Board Exams next year, in 2021

In view of the current circumstances and after receiving a lot of requests from parents and teachers, we are contemplating the option of reduction in the syllabus and instructional hours for the coming academic year. This is what HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said.

The NCERT, in a meeting held on June 4, was asked by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to “analyse the Class X and XII syllabus and textbooks for the purpose of rationalisation of the curriculum this year”. The CBSE prescribes only NCERT textbooks to its affiliated schools.

The document says that while the topics taught by the teacher may be assessed in the Board examination, the self-study concepts can be covered in the school’s internal assessment. The CBSE sets aside 20 marks in each subject for internal assessment of the student. This, if accepted by CBSE, would mean that the Board examination next year will not assess students on topics and concepts that they have covered through self-study, assignments and projects.

In Political Science, Bolivia’s water war and the movement for democracy in Nepal are among topics that may not figure in the Board exam. In History, chapters ‘The Age of Industrialization’ and ‘Print Culture and the Modern World’ have been suggested for “project work and innovative activities”. The latter looks at the development of print (books, journals, newspapers, prints of famous paintings etc), from its beginnings in East Asia to its expansion in Europe and India.

According to sources in the NCERT, the draft document is still under discussion and could undergo further changes.

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