S. Muthukumaran, former Vice-Chancellor, Bharathidasan University, addressing a hearing on common syllabus in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo: S.S.Kumar

CHENNAI: A public hearing on implementation of a uniform syllabus for students of Standard I-X in Tamil Nadu held on Saturday revealed that educationists were still divided on the need for such a move.

Following the State Government's decision in July this year to introduce a common syllabus, several groups have been voicing their opinion on the issue.

However, the heated arguments at Saturday's meeting reflected the absence of an official discussion involving educationists representing different boards.

Those who were against the move were not allowed to present their viewpoint fully. The organisers cut them short saying the meeting was not organised to analyse whether or not a uniform syllabus was required, but to see how the decision could be implemented.

However, parents, teachers and heads of schools came up with a few suggestions.

Rectifying discrepancies and factual errors in textbooks, a mechanism to eliminate malpractices during examinations, overcoming limitations in the evaluation and marking systems in government examinations and systematic filling of vacancies for were some of the points they raised.

They suggested that the new, common syllabus be made more application and research oriented instead of promoting rote learning.

The ambience in schools, especially in government institutions, should be made more attractive and more attention paid to infrastructure development, particularly in rural schools, they said.

Students said the syllabus should be made challenging so that tackling entrance examinations would be easier. They requested that computer education be enhanced. The use of audio-visual teaching aids, they felt, would make classroom sessions more interesting.

S. Muthukumaran, chairperson of the committee set up to look into the modalities of its implementation, said a common syllabus was not just about uniformity; it would enable students to specialise in subjects they were interested in.

Winding up the session, he said: "A large number of people who spoke today could not speak Tamil or English in a consistent manner. This goes to show that there is something radically wrong with our education system."

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