School students and their parents will soon have a reason to cheer about with the Delhi government deciding to lighten school bags for children up to Class VIII.
The Delhi government, which has decided to reduce the syllabus for Class VIII by 25 per cent, is also planning to reduce the syllabus for classes IX to XII in the future.
Education Minister Manish Sisodia made an announcement to this effect on Saturday during a live programme on “Education System on Delhi” on All-India Radio on the occasion of Teachers’ day.
“We have completed the preparation of 25 per cent reduction in school syllabus up to class VIII. The decision will be implemented by next month in all Delhi government schools. The Department of Education has been working on this and has completed consultations with educationists, teachers and parents,” Mr. Sisodia said.
“Outdated and obsolete syllabus will be replaced by skill development, theatre, art, music and sports in the curriculum for classes IX to XII. The Department of Education is working in this direction,” the minister added while saying that the government was implementing the election promise it had made to parents, teachers and students.
According to Mr. Sisodia, the future of children can not be allowed to be burdened by heavy school bags.
“It was deliberated at length whether such a major decision should be taken midway during an academic year, and consensus emerged that since the decision was about reduction in the syllabus, it was the correct time to do it,” he said.
“It has been felt that certain outdated topics, which have no present day relevance, are being done away with,” he added.
The government, in fact, is of the view that for all-round development of children their participation in sports, art and culture, literature, music and theatre needs to be encouraged and increased.
“Due to heavy workload of syllabus, students are unable to get time for activities that are crucial for all-round development,” the minister said.
Mr. Sisodia also recalled his last meeting with former President Late APJ Abdul Kalam. The decision regarding reduction of syllabus in schools was taken by the Delhi Government after the same was suggested by Mr. Kalam._
