CBSE to rationalise syllabus by up to 30 pc for classes 9 to 12 to make up for academic loss

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 7

The government on Tuesday announced rationalisation of syllabi for CBSE classes 9 to 12 up to 30 per cent for the 2020-2021 session to make up for academic loss due to COVID-19 pandemic which forced closure of schools.

Minister for HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal said looking at the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and the world, CBSE was earlier advised to revise the curriculum and reduce course load for the students of classes 9 to 12.

Read also: Chapters on democratic rights, secularism, citizenship, 5-yr plans dropped from CBSE syllabi for higher classes

“Accordingly, CBSE has revised the syllabi for classes IX-XII for the academic session 2020-21,” he said adding that 1.5 lakh suggestions had been received from educationists on this matter.

The minister said changes made in the syllabi had been finalised by the respective course committees with the approval of the curriculum committee and Governing Body of the Board. 

“The revision of syllabi is a measure taken due to the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and at different parts of the world. Considering the importance of achieving the level of learning, the syllabus has been rationalised to the extent possible up to 30 per cent by retaining the core concepts,” he said.

The heads of schools and teachers have been advised by the Board 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.  

“To aid the decision, a few weeks back I also invited suggestions from all educationists on the reduction of syllabus for students and I am glad to share that we received more than 1.5K suggestions. Thank you, everyone, for the overwhelming response,” Nishank tweeted.

Alternative academic calendar and inputs from the NCERT on transacting the curriculum using different strategies shall also be part of the teaching pedagogy in the affiliated schools. 

For Elementary Classes (I-VIII) schools will follow the alternative academic calendar and learning outcomes specified by NCERT. 

The revised syllabus is available on CBSE academic website.