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Latest News |
| 28th
July 2010 / Times of India / Mumbai Edition |
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New Class IX syllabus has parents in a tizzy
Mumbai: Inundated by calls from anxious parents about
the changes in the math and science syllabus—in
accordance with Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal’s
decision last year—SSC schools across the city have
now decided to hold orientation workshops. Last year,
Sibal had announced his decision to unify and standardise
the math and science syllabus for Classes IX and X across
all boards. While the move was welcomed by principals
and teachers, parents of SSC students while pouring over
the new syllabus, which came into effect this academic
year, have raised a number of questions, especially about
the sea change in the math syllabus.
There are no major changes in the science syllabus with
the exception that Science I and II have been merged into
a common subject, but the math portion has changed drastically.
“The entire concept of application of theories and
solving problems is so different. The content in the Science
syllabus is more or less intact, but there are lots of
changes in the math portion,’’ said Medha
Sampat, mother of a class IX student studying in a state
board school.
Parents said they can’t help but worry about how
the new changes will affect their children’s performa
n c e, especially in the all-important board exams. “For
example, until Class VIII, students were taught one way
to tackle a math problem, but now they have to learn a
new method to solve the same sum. How will our children
understand the sudden change?’’ asked another
anxious parent.
School principals are now going to organise orientation
programmes for parents. “Almost ever parent came
to me after the academic session took off this year and
they all had the same problems. Mathematics has suddenly
become difficult. We have now called for a Parents Teachers
Association (PTA) meeting on July 24 and accordingly we
will decide the dates for an orientation programme for
parents,’’ said R a m a k a n t Pandey, principal
of Bansidhar Aggarwal School at Matunga.
Other principals agreed and felt there was an urgent need
to allay the fears of students and parents. “Even
the marking system for science has changed; it has been
brought down to 100 marks from 150. After receiving numerous
requests from parents about the new syllabus, we have
decided to hold an orientation programme on July 28,’’
said Pooja Kapur, principal of R N Shah High School. The
management of Shri Mumbadevi Vidya Mandir at Khar, too,
has decided to hold a workshop for the parents of Class
IX students.
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