Highlights:
CBSE Board updates for the academic year 2020-2021
Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Students
We are well aware of the current scenario existing in the country. The nation since March 25, 2020, is facing lockdown, due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus. Till now, Covid-19 has infected over 7 lakhs Indians and over 72 lakhs people across the globe, as per the data on June 10, 2020. Lots of schedule and many examinations have rescheduled or cancelled. Many central board examinations is forcefully brought an end for the current academic year2019-2020. Whereas, many state board examinations are still pending.
Action Taken by State Boards Prior to CBSE Board Updates
Most of the state boards planned to hold the ongoing evaluation. On the contrary, some states have promoted the students without examinations.
With the latest developments, many state boards have also begun with the evaluation from home, so, that the results are not delayed further.
CBSE has cancelled the pending examination for CBSE class 10 for the entire country. In order to, keep the safety and security of the students. National Boards like – CBSE, NIOS, CISCE have decided to postpone all its ongoing examinations and will reschedule back, after reviewing the situation in the country.
Many other boards like – Kerala, Goa, Assam have also declared the tentative revised schedule of their examinations.
Not only the school examinations have suffered, but many entrance examinations were also postponed including JEE Mains, GUJCET, NEET, among others.
CBSE Board Updates: Reduction in Class 10 and 12 syllabus
The Central Board of Secondary Education decides to reduce the CBSE Class 10 and 12 Board exam syllabuses by one-third for the academic year 2020-21. Currently, CBSE suggests the National Council of Educational Research and Training look into the syllabus of both the classes thoroughly and put forward the themes or topics which are repeats or overlaps or the similar leaning outcomes exist under other chapters.
CBSE Board is working very wisely, instead of cutting a complete chapter is trying to cut repetitive or overlapping topics. The gist of the whole process is to maintain the learning outcomes without putting the burden on the students.
According to reports, the NCERT is currently working with CBSE towards cutting off the syllabus. Very soon the CBSE is going to announce the change in syllabus for classes 10th and 12th. The CBSE has also instructed that Class 10th and 12th Board exam syllabus should reduce to one third. This will make up the loss due to the pandemic and the immediate shut-down.
Class 10 and 12 Syllabus Reduction Highlights, CBSE Board Updates
According to the reports in the leading newspaper, the topics to reduce include:
- Area of a triangle and Frustum of a cone in Mathematics
- Physical Properties of Metals and Non-metals
- The ‘Tyndall Effect’ on the eye in Science
- Age of Industrialisation in History
All these topics are likely to cut down from the syllabus of the Class 10 Board exam for the academic year 2020-2021. The Board has also given the freedom to the CBSE-affiliated schools to rationalise the syllabus for Classes 8 and below at their own.
A chapter’s understanding is based on the themes and topics covered in the chapter. For instance, in the chapter of ‘Acids, Bases and Salts’ in the Class 10 science book, one of the topics in this chapter talks on “Reaction of Metal with Acids and Salts”, which is also talking the same in another chapter of ‘Metals and Non-metals’.
In the same way, in the Class 12 biology book, there is a chapter on ‘Principles of Inheritance and Variation’, which consists of themes and topics such as ‘Mutation’ and ‘Genetic Disorders’. However, similar themes, like studying the genetic code and DNA, are also covered in a chapter called ‘Molecular Basis of Inheritance’.
So, there is the need for such repetitions, to cut down from the syllabus.
CISCE, too Agrees with CBSE Board Updates
The previous week, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) also declared the reduction of 25% syllabus for ICSE 10th and ISC 12th exams for the academic year 2020-21.
Gerry Arathoon, CISCE Chief also reveals that the reduction in the syllabus has been done with the concept of keeping the linear development across classes and side by side ensuring the core concept related to each topic is retained. This will not give extra burden to students and also no pressure in their minds.
Some of the cut downs in CISCE are:
Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army, Origins of the “Kashmir Problem” and Janata Sarkar (1977–1979) are among the topics that are cut from Indian history for students of class 12 CISCE.
The de-colonization of China, the People’s Republic and the establishment of the Oslo Peace Accords are cut from world history.
Retaining the Core as per CBSE Board Updates
CBSE chairman, Manoj Ahuja has given the necessary advice to the experts during a virtual conference with Ashoka University earlier this month. Chairman said, “We are rationalising the curriculum, we plan to retain the core.”
The HRD minister has also asked the teachers and educationists to send the suggestions, for the syllabus which can help in rationalising exercise via social media.
HRD minister also reveals that many parents are writing to the ministry as a request to reduce syllabus reduction, so, that students are not coming in stress and are able to cope up with the coming session.
CBSE board exams 2021
Very less teaching time is available for the board exams 2021 for the teachers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, CBSE recommends making the question papers consisting of 50 per cent concept-based multiple-choice questions and the rest, theory-based. The details will be on release shortly.
CBSE Board Updates on Online Verification and Diagnostic Testing
CBSE plans to create a storehouse of CBSE certificates. All the documents will exist on a Digi-locker for each student from Class 9 onwards, to facilitate online verification.
This will improve the learning outcomes of students from the very early stages the “Hand Holding Diagnostic Testing for Conceptional Clarity” in Classes 3, 5 and 8 every year. CBSE expects this will surely improve the quality of teaching at the lower levels in all CBSE Board schools.
New Mobile Application for Teacher Training
A new mobile application, Sameeksha App is on release for teacher training programmes. This app is the higher version of the DIKSHA App.
In the general body meeting of CBSE suggest to create unique emails for each school and all correspondence with the CBSE shall process through this email only.
Extracurricular activities as per CBSE Board Updates
CBSE has also increased the participation of children in sports and co-curricular activities, for this CBSE is planning for various competitions. The CBSE will also declare the complete layout for competitions to declare the best schools. The schools should excel in education, environment, social service and other aspects.
For this, CBSE will invite online applications. And, also a fair system of selection will be there to make the process transparent.
Result Declaration
The CBSE reveals that the results for class 10 and 12 exams will be declared by July 15.
The Exam Controller also says the exams which are pending due to the COVID-19 situation are now cancelled.
The External Links are:
https://www.jagranjosh.com/news/cbse-likely-to-reduce-class-10-and-12-board-exam-syllabus-by-one-third-for-2020-21-154740
https://news.careers360.com/cbses-general-body-meeting-proposes-reduced-syllabus-for-2021-exam
https://www.shiksha.com/boards/articles/covid-19-impact-of-coronavirus-on-board-examinations-blogId-32823
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