CBSE plans 30% cut in syllabus

After cancelling the pending exams for Class 10 and Class 12, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed guidelines for the next academic session.

During a webinar chaired by CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi, the board suggested a 30 per cent reduction of the syllabus by July 15, and topic wise deletion from each chapter.

The proposal has so far been received well by parents, teachers, and school managements.

Explaining why reducing the syllabus is imperative, Dr Usha Reddy, principal of Meridian School, Banjara Hills, said, “Online class environment has been adopted across the country and this is something that is new for all of us and has posed different challenges for students and teachers alike. If a full-fledged course is taken up, that in my opinion would be unjust. It is important to take students in rural areas into consideration.”

Welcoming the board's decision to focus on competency-based learning — mental, emotional, physical, and academic — Dr Reddy said students have been pushed towards self-learning and understanding bigger perspectives.

CBSE has proposed online classes with assessment being on the basis of small tests, projects, and intergroup activities. The board will make a training module for project-based learning and guidelines will be issued for parents also to accept online classes.

The Board also said that the pattern of board exams will be changed, and this will be intimated by July 15. While there will be no change in the weightage of practical exams, advisories on the summative examinations will be issued soon.