Shillong, June 2: National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) removed Periodic Table, contribution of agriculture to the national economy, challenges to democracy and sustainable management of natural resources from the syllabus for Class 10 and Class 12 board examination.
This move also comes after NCERT removed Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution as part of dropping the theory of biological evolution from the science syllabus in CBSE Class 10 curriculum.
Why did NCERT made these changes?
The changes in the texbook syllabus is part of a “rationalisation” exercise based on expert recommendations. The new textbooks with new updates, deletation and changes is now made available for the students to purchase it.
Following this changes, several experts, scientists have written to NCERT to roll back their move saying that this can potentially affect the foundational education of students in India.
NCERT’s official clarification
An official clarification was issued by the NCERT as to why the decision was made to remove certain parts from the class 10 syllabus. Earlier, the education board had said that their move was to ‘reduce the load’ on students.
NCERT in their latest clarification said that they have not removed periodic table and evolution from the school education curriculum but in fact are available in appropriate detail for students who will take science in classes 11 and 12.
“Students pursuing science in classes 11 and 12 will study the details of Periodic Classification of elements (Periodic table). The content placed in the periodic table again have been made more age appropriate, more so considering the Covid pandemic situation,” the official clarification from NCERT read.
NCERT on other deletions from syllabus
In a tweet, NCERT said, “During the COVID -19 pandemic, students and teachers across the school stages were at home and managing teaching-learning using alternative modes. NCERT attempted to rationalise the contents of the textbooks in 2021 considering following criteria:”
“In class 10, chemical reaction; acids, bases & salts; metals & non-metals; carbon & its compounds have been covered. Students pursuing science in classes 11 and 12 will study the details of Periodic Classification of elements (Periodic table).”
“The content placed in the periodic table again have been made more age appropriate, more so considering the Covid pandemic situation.”
“During the Pandemic – COVID- 19 situation, students across the stages of school education have struggled a lot to continue their learning through online and other modes.These are more appropriate to be the part of Sociology subject.”
“Chapter one of Class X, Democratic Politics- II already deals with some aspects of Social Movements.”
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