– Mita Mukherjee

Students of Class IX may have to study 10 subjects — double of what they study at present — according to a draft syllabus prepared by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), the highest body that prepares syllabus for school textbooks.

Under the existing system, Class IX students study five subjects including mathematics, science, social science and two languages.

According to the draft syllabus uploaded on the NCERT official website, students of Class IX will have to study three languages and four more subjects in addition to the existing ones including individuals in society, vocational education, arts education and physical education and wellbeing.

In Class X, students will have to study the same number of subjects but instead of individuals in society, they will study environmental education.

“The NCF-SE 2023 proposes the following ten curricular areas for Grades 9 and10:1.Language 1 (R1)2. Language 2 (R2)3. Language 3 (R3)4. Mathematics 5. Science 6. Social Science 7. Individuals in Society 8. Vocational Education 9. Arts Education 10. Physical Education and Well-being. In Grade 10, all the above curricular areas will remain the same, except for ‘Individuals in Society’, which will be replaced by environmental education,” the draft read.

Under the existing three-language formula students study three languages including their mother tongue, English and another foreign language till Class VIII. The draft syllabus says that NCF-SE 2023 proposes that students should study three languages from Claes VI to X.

NCERT has said that the introduction of five additional subjects is in tune with National Curriculum Framework – School Education ( NCF- SE) 2023.

Several school heads and teachers supported the move but according to a section of schools the new subjects will increase rhe burden on students to a great extent.

Welcoming the move, some teachers said the inclusion of the new compulsory subjects aims to ensure holistic education of children.

“This is a good move. These subjects are already there in the CBSE curriculum and it is compulsory for students to learn these subjects even now. But as of now students are assessed through grades. Now they will be awarded marks. As for physical education it is good that the board has given more emphasis on it. In Class IX students enter adolescence. It will be beneficial for them if they have to focus on health and life- skill education at this stage. Art-integrated learning is equally important for students,” Manoj Jha, a teacher of Kendriya Vidyalaya Kanchrapara II in Bengal and also the general secretary of the Kolkata chapter of All India Kendriya Vidyalaya Teachers’ Association told EducationWorld.

Mukta Nain consultant and former director of Birla High School, Kolkata appreciated compulsory learning of environmental education in Class X considering the increasing pollution worldwide.

“Studying environmental education as a compulsory subject in Class X will help students gain exposure to environmental issues and concepts at an early age. This is necessary to produce responsible global citizens,” Nain told EducationWorld.

However a number of teachers felt that the inclusion of the new subjects is not acceptable as it will increase the syllabus load.

“The inclusion of the new subjects is not in tune with the NEP 2020 recommendations. The NEP recommended reduction of syllabus load,” a teacher said.

However, most schools said they have not received any directive from their respective boards about the implementation of the new syllabus.

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