20% syllabus to be cut for class 10 SSLC exams

By Kumaran P | NT

Bengaluru: The Department of Primary and Secondary education has decided to cut 20 per cent of the syllabus for class 10 board examination, as they could conduct only 180 hours of teaching instead of 240 hours, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

This move will provide relief to over 14 lakh students who will be attending the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) in March next year. Primary and Secondary Education Minister B.C. Nagesh told News Trail, “Due to the less number of teaching hours most of the portions were completed soon. But, it will not be fair to have all the syllabus this year especially after facing the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“I have reviewed the entire syllabus and along with the experts we have decided to cut 20 percent of the syllabus and give only what is necessary for the students in the examinations. First of all, we did not want to cancel the board exams this year and want to have it by the end of March or April, so we have less time and this decision will help the students,” he added. Schools in Karnataka have decided to have preparatory exams before the board exams. Nagesh said, “Especially this batch of students have got a move over in their 8th standard and even in the 9th due to pandemic situations and they have not faced a real-time exam in the last two years. So, it is going to be really hard for them. We will have all preparatory exams so this batch will get familiarise with the examination pattern better.”

Schools however lauded this move as the teachers also felt that students couldn’t grasp everything in Mathematics and Science. “Mathematics and Science were really tough subjects for students. They couldn’t grasp everything in this short time, hence cutting down syllabus is a good move,” said Saritha Rani, a government school teacher.