West Bengal Govt To Reduce Class X, XII Syllabus By 35%, Chances Of Schools Reopening Look Bleak

The expert committee suggested to keep the conceptual and class-specific topics in the syllabus while insisting that repetitive and time-consuming chapters be eliminated.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

Kolkata: Even as there is no clarity on reopening of school, college and university campuses in West Bengal, the state government has decided to reduce the curriculum at secondary and higher secondary levels due to the pandemic.  What is the change in curriculum? The state government has accepted the recommendations of an expert panel to reduce the curriculum, informed Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, as per PTI report. The changes suggested for the Madhyamik (Class X) and Uchha Madhyamik (Class XII) curriculum for the 2020-21 academic year due to the Covid-19 situation. The reforms has been suggested by the syllabus reforms committee, the secondary board and higher secondary councils following which there will be a 30-35 per cent cut in the course load at the secondary and higher secondary levels, as per the report. As per the Times of India report, the expert committee suggested that conceptual and class-specific topics to remain in the syllabus while insisting that repetitive and time-consuming chapters be eliminated. The panel has taken into consideration the learning outcome in each subject was to be implemented in the next years. The state government have attempted to connect with students by providing scheduled teaching hours on television, uploading study materials on state-run website and and getting subject experts to instruct students over phones apart from  individual schools holding online classes. What are expected dates for Xth & XIIth Exams? Usually, madhyamik is usually held in February and higher secondary exam starts from mid March. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education will announce at an appropriate time the schedule for holding next year's secondary and higher secondary exams. When are schools going to reopen? The education minister indicated there was no "immediate possibility" of opening state-run or private schools. However, the department of school education will ensure that "schools take necessary measures for maintaining Covid-19 safety norms before they reopen.