The Central Board of Education in India in its bid to make the syllabus more competitive and knowledge oriented has devised a new methodology in its curriculum. It has decided to introduce completely new terms and subjects regarding elective subjects which students need to choose in their curriculum. The move has been decided to be implemented in the curriculum of classes 11 and 12.
CBSE has expressed in its press release that it wants the students to get more exposure and knowledge on certain fields that they have not ventured before in their academic curriculum in schools. The subjects will aim at increasing the students’ awareness on subjects relating to Indian heritage as well as practices pertaining to the conservation of our environment.
The subjects which are being planned to be introduced include astronomy in India, chemistry in India, Indian metallurgy, Indian philosophy, ayurveda, life science and traditional ways and methods to conserve our environment.
It has been decided that out of the total marks, 30% weightage will be given to research and project work. The students will be given the opportunity to tour historical places of importance for enhancing their knowledge on the Indian heritage and ethnicity.
This move has received mixed reviews from the student community as well the guardians. Students interested in pursuing the aforesaid subjects in the future as their career motives are happy and will find this to be real boon and great opportunity for themselves.
On the other hand are students who are not intersected in such subjects and thus are feeling like being compelled to pursue subjects that they do not like. Contemporary subjects that have previously been in the CBSE curriculum are their choice which they do not want to be abolished. Many students like Rahul Yadav have expressed their displeasure on the matter saying, “If i want to pursue a career in Engineering or Medical, such subjects are indeed irrelevant because they are hardly related to the mainstream subjects that we mostly opt for.”
People associated with the education field like professor J K Paul has said, “Instilling the values and ethics of our nation is not a bad idea at all. The heritage and culture of our country must be known and understood by the students but they should not be compelled to do so otherwise the attempt may have negative impact on the student’s mind and fail to achieve its goal.”
A vast majority of students are feeling that the subjects they want to pursue must be more career-oriented and the CBSE must look into that aspect. They feel that it is the board’s responsibility to look after the fact that the education received by the student in ultimately beneficial to him or not.
In spite of this cacophony over the issue, many students have expressed their pleasure at the adoption of offbeat subjects in the curriculum.
Preeti Sharma of Class XI has said, “Subjects like astronomy and philosophy are really interesting. It will also help me to prepare myself and get an idea beforehand about the subject before i pursue it as my major’s subject in college.”