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Latest News |
| 17th
February 2010 / Economic Times |
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10+2 science & maths syllabus to be made uniform
from 2011 session
NEW DELHI: State boards across the country have agreed
to implement a core curriculum in science and mathematics
at the higher secondary level. The
decision taken by the Council of School Board of Education
(COBSE) on Tuesday will be implemented from 2011-12.
The apex body for all school boards and councils also
agreed to work towards a common entrance examination for
professional courses by 2013. With concerns about stress
faced by students mounting, the core curriculum is expected
to be implemented smoothly. Putting in place a common
entrance examination for courses like engineering, medicine
may prove to be difficult, as it would mean doing away
with entrance exams like IIT-JEE. Both decision would
be referred to the Central Advisory Board on Education
for approval.
“The COBSE approved the core curriculum in science
and mathematics. This will be accepted by all the state
boards at the senior higher secondary level. Hence forth,
the core curriculum will be taught in the science stream
in all schools,” HRD minister Kapil Sibal said.
The COBSE meeting on Tuesday was attended by representative
of 20 boards. There are 41 boards across the country.
Officials said that those not present had conveyed their
assent to the two proposals discussed at the meeting.
This move to put in place a core curriculum would ensure
uniformity in content as well as provide a ‘level
playing field’ for students across the country.
The core curriculum has been prepared for physics, chemistry,
mathematics and biology. The boards have been given three
months to prepare a core curriculum for commerce. The
consensus is on the content of the syllabus and state
boards will continue to determine the mode of examination.
The idea of a core curriculum in science and math and
a move towards a common admission test for professional
courses has been in the works. At the last meeting of
COBSE in August, Mr Sibal had placed the proposal before
the 41 boards for their consideration.
COBSE agreed that the school boards will work towards
a common entrance examination for admission of students
in higher courses, including engineering and medicine,
by 2013. A national taskforce will be set up to consider
nature and modalities of the entrance test. It will consult
the school boards, institutes like IITs and AIIMS to examine
whether the proposed entrance will be able to cater to
the requirements of all types of institutes.
The taskforce will need to work out the weightage it could
give to class XII board examination. It will consider
the manner in which existing entrance examinations, especially
those associated with a brand value like IITJEE, AIIMS
entrance exam, could be brought under one umbrella. This
could prove to be a challenge. A similar effort to had
been made under the NDA government. The effort was opposed
by many established institutions. Instead, the government
had to settle for a bouquet of five or six tests, with
institutes opting for any one of them to select students.
The ministry has made it clear that the single admission
test would mean the end of the road for admission tests
like the IITJEE. Ministry joint secretary S C Khuntia
said, “we will work for a common entrance test for
every stream.
One examination for all engineering institutions, which
means IITs will also follow it. In that parameter, there
should not be any separate IIT entrance. We have to work
in that direction. As per the score of the entrance, selection
will be made. Let’s say, the top rankers may go
to IITs, the second best will go to institutions which
are a step below IITs, so on. The system will benefit
students most.”
The ministry is keen on putting this single entrance examination
in place at the same time as the “core curriculum”
students are graduating. “By 2013 we should have
in place a common system for common admission into professional
institutions in the country,” Mr Sibal said.
The minister said that “this will smoothen the admission
process into engineering, medical, economics and commerce
courses.” A single test, the minister felt would
reduce the admission-related stress of students.
Board representatives were upbeat about the core curriculum
though the jury still appeared to be out on the common
entrance examination. “This is a good step to have
a common curriculum. We have no problem on implementing
it.
However, there may be certain difficulties in holding
a CET. While holding a common entrance test for the country,
the state’s interest has to be protected in state
level institutes,” Bihar School Exam Board chairman
A K P Yadav said.
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