Interpreted "differently", says CBSE on countrywide reaction over revised syllabus

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday claimed that the revised syllabus announced by it is being interpreted "differently" and the move is only a one-time measure for the 2020-21 academic session in view of the COVID-19 situation.

The CBSE deleted chapters on Federalism, Secularism among others from the syllabus for classes 9-12. CBSE, while reducing the syllabus for class 9-12th, decided to delete 30 percent of the syllabus for the academic session 2020-21. In an order issued of 7^th July 2020, the board stated the instructions to the schools, and uploaded the list of dropped chapters on its official website.

CBSE said the reduction or “rationalization” of syllabus for classes 9 to 12 has been "interpreted differently", and it is “a one-time measure only”. 

From the curriculum of class 9, the chapters on Democratic rights in Political Science, Population in geography, and Food Security in India in Economics have been dropped out. For the curriculum of class 10, the chapters on Democracy and Diversity, Gender, Religion and Caste, Popular Struggles and Movements, and Challenges to Democracy are deleted completely from Political Science book.

For Class 11, the chapter on Federalism and a portion on Local Governments are deleted from the book Indian Constitution at Work. The sub sections from Local government about ‘Why do we need local governments?’ and ‘Growth of local government in India’ have been scrapped. Along with that, the chapters on Nationalism, Citizenship, and Secularism are completely deleted from Political Theory.

"The schools have also been directed to follow the Alternative Academic Calendar prepared by NCERT for transacting the curriculum. Therefore, each of the topics that have been wrongly mentioned in media as deleted have been covered under Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT which is already in force for all the affiliated schools of the Board,” the CBSE said in a statement.

Chapters on Security in the Contemporary world in Contemporary World and Social and New Social Movements in India in Politics in India since Independence have been deletedfrom the curriculum of class 12. A few portions from Planned Development and India’s Foreign Policy have also been removed from Politics in India since Independence.

From the history syllabus, the chapters on Peasants, Zamidars and State, Understanding Partition, and Deccan riots have been scrapped completely for class 12. Even the chapters on Climate change have also been dropped in Geography for class 11.

In Sociology, the chapter called The Story of Indian Democracy and Globalization and Social Change have also been scrapped completely for class 12.  The deleted portions have to be explained by teachers if necessary as per the orders by Ministry of Human Resources Development.

The restructuring of the syllabus took place to recover the loss caused due to the shutting down of schools due to the pandemic. The schools are supposed to be remain closed till 31^st July, and the classes to continue in online mode.

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