Members of the All-India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest here on Saturday against the “abrupt introduction” of Central syllabus for science in first pre-university course from this academic year.
The protesters said the move would have an adverse impact on rural and poor students who could not afford to take private coaching.
‘Students apprehensive’
Many students were opting for arts and commerce streams as they were apprehensive about the new Central syllabus for science, they said.
Rajashekhar V.N., president of the State unit of the AIDSO, said students and teachers were not consulted before the decision on introducing the Central syllabus was taken.
The Department of Pre-University Education has adopted the national core curriculum in science, prepared by the Council of Boards of School Education in India and prescribed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks from this academic year. The government has called it an attempt to prepare students for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses which is set to be introduced from next year.
But Mr. Rajashekhar said: “It does not serve the aim as the State syllabus being followed till SSLC does not equip students to cope up with this sudden and huge academic demand. In addition, colleges do not have adequate number of teachers to teach the new syllabus.”
Students who participated in the protest said the new syllabus had created a “huge learning deficit”. “It is demanding unbearable input from students. Teachers too are not adequately equipped to handle the new Central syllabus, and 120 hours of teaching are required for each subject, which is not available,” said a student.
Debate sought
Ravinandan, secretary of the Bangalore district unit of the AIDSO, said, “If the government has genuine concern for education, it should initiate a democratic debate by involving educationists, teachers, students and parents to evolve the new syllabus.”
After members of the AIDSO met Commissioner of the Department of Pre-University Education Rashmi V., Mr. Rajashekaran said, “Ms. Rashmi asked the delegation to go on with its demonstration and said the department would go ahead with the new Central syllabus for I PU science students.”
