A uniform Class XII syllabus for Science,Maths soon

If all goes according to plan,India may soon have a standard,uniform curriculum for Class XII students in the three Sciences Physics,Chemistry,Biology and Mathematics.

If all goes according to plan,India may soon have a standard,uniform curriculum for Class XII students in the three Sciences Physics,Chemistry,Biology and Mathematics. This would ensure a level playing field to students from the various state and Central boards across the country in competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination JEE and the Pre-Medical Test PMT,which,at present,are largely based on the Central Board for Secondary Education CBSE curriculum.

The Council of Boards of School Education COBSE has given its in-principle approval for a new,upgraded core curriculum in Science and Maths for Class XII students. With most boards having already expressed their willingness for the change,the COBSE has already circulated a core curriculum document to all state education boards for final approval.

The core curriculum adds new relevant and contemporary dimensions to the syllabi,like nuclear physics and chemistry,communication systems,space wave propagation and so on. The aim is to give the students a cutting edge in the professional world,while also giving a primer on new subjects and making the students ready for competitive exams as well as higher studies in college.

The core curriculum also outlines the distribution of classes for each unit/ chapter of study. For instance:

amp;149; Chemistry would dedicate eight periods to Polymers and 18 to Qualitative Analysis.

amp;149; Mathematics would see 20 classes on Determinants; 18 each on Trigonometry,Matrices and Calculus; and 12 on Vectors.

amp;149; Biology would have 45 periods each on Human and Plant Physiology and Genetics and 35 on Reproduction and Health amp; Diseases. Biotechnology,which is not taught by all school boards at present,would have 30 classes earmarked for it.

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amp;149; There would be 60 periods of practicals for Biology. However,projects and models may be passe with the core curriculum document pointing out that cheap imitations are readily available in the market.

For example,the number of periods to be devoted to Kinematics or Properties of Bulk Matter in Physics have been specified as 30 and 28 respectively,as per the complexity of the units involved. There would also be a smooth transition between chapters and units,unlike the present format where the units are disjointed this issue was raised by teachers and has been addressed in the curriculum, says Puran Chand,Joint Secretary,COBSE.

Prof D V Sharma,General Secretary,COBSE,says the core curriculum has been decided after year-long discussions with school teachers,varsity professors,academic experts and state board officials. He adds that it is a detailed document that has added new units and chapters to each subject,specified the number of periods that need to be devoted to each unit as per the complexity of the matter under study and explained applicability of complex scientific laws to encourage curiosity in students.

It is also formulated keeping in mind the syllabi on which competitive entrance examinations like JEE and PMT are based to ensure that no state board student finds himself out of depth when attempting them,says Sharma. Most competitive exams are largely based on the CBSE curriculum,putting several state board-educated students at a disadvantage.

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The uniform curriculum,which claims to be a notch above the existing CBSE syllabus,is also expected to stem the rush for CBSE affiliation by schools. The basic idea is that a level playing field must be given to students across all state boards when they appear for competitive exams after their Class XII,mainly IIT JEE,PMT,engineering entrance exams,AFMC etc. The COBSE has been working on this with teachers,principals and all state boards since August 2008. University professors were involved to ensure the curriculum is up-to-date with the next level college as well. Now there is more or less a consensus on the core curriculum and many boards are expected to switch to it soon, says Sharma.

It is learnt that a core curriculum for Commerce is also in the wings,with the Union Human Resource Development HRD Ministry quite keen on it.