CBSE To Reduce Course By 30% For Class 9 To 12 To Makeup Academic Loss Amid Covid-19 Crisis

Central Board of Secondary Education has decided to revise the syllabus for classes IX-XII for the academic session 2020-21.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: In the wake of Coronavirus pandemic which resulted in loss of classroom teachings due to closure of schools, the central government  has decided to cut the academic syllabus by up to 30 per cent for students of class 9 to 12 by retaining the core concepts.  In an official circular issued on Tuesday, the Central Board of Secondary Education said that the board has decided to revise the syllabus for classes IX-XII for the academic session 2020-21. "The changes made in the course have been finalised by the respective Course Committees with the approval of the Curriculum Committee and Governing body of the Board," Said CBSE in its official statement. Meanwhile, Union Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank welcomed the Board's decision and said, "Looking at the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and the world, CBSE was advised to revise the curriculum and reduce course load for the students of Class 9th to 12th." 

Looking at the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country and the world, #CBSE was advised to revise the curriculum and reduce course load for the students of Class 9th to 12th. @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @PIB_India @MIB_India @DDNewslive @cbseindia29 @mygovindia

— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 7, 2020

Going by the issued order by the CBSE, the heads of schools and teachers may ensure that the topics that have been reduced are also explained to the students to the extent requied to connect different topic.

"However, the reduced syllabus will not be part of the topics for internal Assessment and year-end Board Examination. Alternative Academic Calendar and inputs from the NCERT on transacting using different strategies may also be part of the teaching pedagogy," CBSE said.

Th order further stated that for elementary classes, i.e. class I - VIII, the school may follow the Alternative academic calendar and learning outcomes specified by NCERT.