Syllabus not complete, shortage of lecturers adds to students’ woes
› I am aware that the teachers have been given insufficient time to cover the history syllabus. However, they are taking extra classes. I will soon hold a meeting with subject experts.
OP SONI, state education minister
LUDHIANA : With the state government deciding only in October last year that the Punjab School Education Board was to use history textbooks of 2017-18 for Classes 11 and 12 for 2019 exams, the syllabus has not been completed in schools. The late decision had meant that books were not available to students till late in the academic session.
Even as they have been on their toes for the past two-and-ahalf months, the majority of the history lecturers say that five-six chapters of 22 remained to be taught. Most schools have also decided to postpone pre-board examinations to January-end, against the previous years’ scheduling in the middle of January. Usually, the syllabus of history, an elective subject in Classes 11 and 12 that about 2 lakh students opt for, is completed by December.
This academic year has been different, as the PSEB introduced new syllabus for Classes 11 and 12 in April 2018. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had alleged that a major portion of Sikh and Punjab history had been removed from the Class-12 curriculum. Among other things, the party had also alleged that the new books insulted Sikh gurus.
The state government then formed a six-member committee to review history textbooks of Classes 11 and 12, before chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh took the final call on October 29.
Even as the reduced time has been a big factor, shortage of history lecturers has added to the pain.
In Ludhiana,of 91 sanctioned posts of history lecturers, approximately 50% are vacant. Sources added that lecturers of other subjects like political science, english and punjabi are filling in. A history lecturer, Neelam, of Government Senior Secondary School, Multipurpose, Lakkar Bazaar, Ludhiana, said, “I am taking extra classes to complete the syllabus. A few chapters are left. It is a tough task to complete the syllabus in three months. The results will be hit.”
Another teacher, on the condition of anonymity, said, “In the absence of a history lecturer in our school, I have been asked to fill in. It is difficult to cover all 22 chapters. The authorities should have reduced the syllabus.”
A government school student Gurmeet Kaur said, “The syllabus of history is not complete. Only today (Wednesday), we have had a discussion on Chapter 16. We do not even have a history lecturer and our language instructor has been teaching us.”
She added, “I am fond of the subject, but was not aware that this subject will be taught in such a hurry. I am not sure now if this was the right subject to choose.”
Punjab education minister OP Soni said, “I am aware that the teachers have been given insufficient time to cover the history syllabus. However, they are taking extra classes. I will soon hold a meeting with subject experts.”