National science syllabus lacks depth: state HS Board

The ministry,in the Council of Boards of School Education in India meeting held in August last week,had asked the respective state boards to come up with their suggestions regarding the proposed national syllabus for science subjects — Mathematics,Physics,Chemistry and Bio-Sciences.

After making the Class X Board examination optional,the ministry is trying to bring in parity in terms of syllabus at the higher secondary level.

“After carefully examining the syllabus for Physics,Chemistry and Biology,the Board has learnt that the syllabus is not directed at providing analytical skills and in-depth analysis,” said Onkar Sadhan Adhikari,president of the state HS Council.

“There is also no scope of practical-based understanding in the proposed syllabus. In our system,we have allotted 20 marks for practical examination for each science subject,” he said.

The Board has also pointed out that in the prescribed national syllabus the number of classes designated to a particular topic has not been mentioned.

“We have suggested about 80-90 classes in a year for practical-based subjects like Physics,Chemistry and Biology and 120 classes for Mathematics,” said a council official.

“There is nothing different in terms of approach and content in the syllabus proposed by the Centre. It is more like the CBSE syllabus,” said a teacher who has examined the proposed syllabus.

The syllabus of each subject has been analysed by around eight teachers from the university,college and school level. The Board is expected to send their observations to the ministry by next week.