The recent circular from the Karnataka Textbook Society asking class 10 students not to solve around 200 mathematical problems has come under fire.
While teachers said the decision to reduce the number of problems in mathematics has come too late in the day, experts feel the decision is a setback to the very purpose of providing common syllabus throughout the country.
The society issued a circular on November 13 asking schools not to attempt around 200 problems given in the mathematics textbook. The syllabus was changed along with other subjects to bring it on par with CBSE.
Bengaluru-based Director of Public Instructions Nagendra Kumar said the decision was taken following complaints from teachers that the new mathematics syllabus was too vast and tough for students to understand within the limited time available. Teachers from Dakshina Kannada said the circular had come at a time when they had only one month to complete the portion as students started preparing for the examination from January.
A block-level resource coordinator, who did not want to be named, said teachers had put in efforts to crack many of the problems that had now been made optional. “Merely taking off certain problems does not help the students. Concepts have to be taught,” he said.
M. Mahadevan, the General Secretary of Association of Mathematics Teachers of India (AMTI), said students in Karnataka had lost an opportunity to be on par with students from other parts of the country in the competitive examinations. He said the association had suggested that 50 per cent of the question paper should have easy questions, 30 per cent from the book and the rest tough questions so that bright students could show their talent. The decision could only please coaching centres.
New committee set up
Director of Public Instruction, Nagendra Kumar, said committees have been set up to review the text books, subject-wise, issued from Class 1 to 10. Mr. Kumar said the committee will review all the text books including the Mathematics text book for class 10 that has howlers and difficult concepts. “Changes will be carried out for the next academic year as suggested by the committee,” he said.
