On the June 20, 2017 a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court by Dr. Harish Shetty, an eminent child psychologist. It was regarding the difficulties faced by school students who suffered from learning disabilities. Justices V.M. Kanade and A.M. Badar while passing the judgment, commented on a remotely related but otherwise much-debated subject. The two-judge bench observed that there had been a spike in the dropout rate after Class X as students were finding it difficult to clear mathematics and language papers. Justice Kanade went on to say that mathematics was not a prerequisite for an arts degree and suggested that it be made an optional subject for those students who intended to pursue humanities in Class XI and XII.
He reasoned that making mathematics optional would increase the overall pass percentage and encourage more students to pursue undergraduate and graduate level degrees. The court called on the various boards of education to consider making mathematics an optional subject in Class X and consult experts on the subject.
Varied reactions
Mathematics and its importance has been an oft-debated topic in Indian education circles. From being the home of Aryabhatta and Bhramagupta, the Western stereotype that ‘the Indian kid is a math whiz’, to being a country dominated by renowned engineers, businessmen and financiers — mathematics is a very integral part of the Indian image. To do away with the subject in the high-school level itself by making it a matter of choice in Class X would increase overall pass percentages and be a boon for those choosing humanities, no doubt. But, we as a nation, run the risk of producing a generation of individuals who will be dependent on calculators for the most basic processes.
The judgment has elicited a number of responses from various stakeholders. “Mathematics must be compulsorily included to inculcate logical thinking, innovation and creativity in students,” opined Ranganathan, an eminent educationist with over thirty years of experience in teaching and teacher training. “Mathematics as a subject serves as an aid for most other subjects and is an important tool for brain development,” he added. Class X students from a renowned ICSE school in Chennai remarked that they really enjoyed their mathematics syllabus and that it did not deter them or pose any difficulties. “The idea to provide an option must be implemented, as the fundamentals of the subject are taught to students from Class VI to VIII. The Class X syllabus moves beyond the basics and has content that might not be of any use,” said Sumita, a parent whose daughter wishes to pursue humanities in Class XI.
Varied opinions exist among teachers as well. “Mathematics should remain compulsory till Class X in this ‘technological age’ and the option to opt out of the subject in Class XI is sufficient,” asserted a teacher of higher-secondary mathematics who preferred to remain anonymous. “Such an option could be offered if the fundamentals were to be taught to children thoroughly in middle school. However, it might not be possible for most children to make an informed choice at such a young age and it is highly likely that they might change their minds later regarding their degrees and careers. In such a scenario, this is a risky decision to take,” commented Jackuline Andrews, a Mathematics teacher of Class X ICSE with vast experience.
