Instead of a uniform computer science subject for students across streams, students who will be entering Class 11 this academic year will have three different papers associated with computers — one each for the science, arts, and vocational streams.
An order issued by Director of School Education R. Elangovan has stated that while students of the science stream will have computer science as an option, students of the commerce and arts streams can choose the computer applications paper.
Vocational students will have a computer technology paper, which they will study as one among their six other papers.
“We felt that it was not justified for all streams to have one common computer science paper as every stream has topics that need to be prioritised. While science students will have computer science and study programming languages, the computer applications paper for commerce students will be more relevant to their subjects, such as accountancy and economics, and will have topics such as e-commerce, database management and software such as Tally,” said T. Udhayachandran, Additional Director of the School Education department.
This will be introduced in Class 11 across all State board schools in the State, as part of the syllabus revamp from the 2018-19 academic year.
Draft syllabus
The draft syllabus for all three papers have been released as well.
While students in the vocational stream were previously studying two practical papers and one theory paper in their chosen subject, they will now study computer technology in addition to just one theory paper and one practical paper.
The vocational stream offers students a choice of 12 subjects to specialise in and this includes general machinist, textile technology, food management, and nursing.
“Learning computer technology will mean that students in the vocational stream will have an advantage of picking up additional employability skills. Irrespective of what subjects they have chosen to specialise in, being equipped with the basic knowledge of operating computers will help them,” said S.N. Janardhanan, state general secretary, Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School Vocational Teachers Kazhagam.
