CISCE reduces Class X & XII syllabi by up to 25%

NEW DELHI: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CICSE) announced reduction in syllabus for Class X and XII Board exam in 2021 by up to 25% taking into account the academic loss due to lockdown and subsequent schools closure since March 16 in view COVID-19 outbreak, on Friday.
“The global outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, aspects of life including the educational life in schools. Schools across the country have been shut for the past three months due to the lockdown.While a number of CISCE affiliated schools have tried to adapt to this changed scenario and have tried to keep the teaching learning process through online classes, there has been a significant shortening of the academic year and loss of the instructional hours,” said Gerry Arathoon CICSE Chief Executive and Secretary.
“To make up for the loss in instructional hours during the current session, the CISCE has worked with its subject experts, to reduce the syllabus for all major subjects at the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) levels. 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,” he added.
At present the syllabi has been reduced by up to 25%, but that is subject to further review of the prevailing conditions. The Board said that it may have to reduce the syllabus up to 50% in case the prevailing conditions don't turn conducive.
According to Arathoon, “Given the academic loss till July, which is around 45 days we have reduced the syllabus for the students appearing for Class X and XII Boards in 2021 by 20% to 25%. 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% reduction.”
The Board has directed schools to ensure that the concerned subject teachers at the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) levels transact the syllabus strictly according to the sequence of topics given in the syllabus, so as to facilitate further reduction in syllabus, if required, depending on the situation of the pandemic in the country.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is also in process of reducing the syllabus and has sought suggestions from various stakeholders in this regard. However, the final syllabus has not been notified yet.