JOIN USSSLC students are readying for the many preparatory exams before the Board exams in April.
However, many are not aware that they will be studying a syllabus on par with CBSE in I PU, if they opt for science stream (PCMB in particular) in any of the colleges in the State. Apart from a host of changes introduced in the examination pattern and the preparatory phase for Board exam this year, another change that is to follow is the syllabus for pre-university courses. None of the Class X students of Agrahara Government School knows that he or she would have a new syllabus till this reporter asked them about it.
Says N P Uma Devi, a teacher of St Paul’s School: “Will the teachers be trained? Will the students be given preparatory training? What exactly are the changes to be made?” Those who have taken notice of the recent decision of the government have many questions and mixed reactions.
The government has said the teachers will be trained for the new syllabus and a bridge course will be conducted for students to help them cope with the new syllabus. Despite this, some feel, it is not possible for students to switch to Central syllabus in pre-university while their complete schooling has been in State syllabus.
“The students in my school cannot cope with CBSE syllabus in college. As it is, only 50 per cent of them join a college. The rate will come down to 20 per cent if the syllabus is tougher than what it is now,” remarks Sabiha Kaur, assistant teacher of Government Junior College, Varthur.
While teachers have expressed doubts about the capability of students from rural areas, few government school students wish to grow beyond these set impressions about them. Take for instance, Mahadeva, who finished schooling at the Government High School at Doddarahalli. He secured distinction in SSLC and is now pursuing PUC in Rural College, Kanakapura. He dreaded entering college as many had told him that college meant tough syllabus. It turned out to be true to a large extent as he found it difficult to cope with college syllabus and lectures initially.
Gradually, he was able to fall into the groove and is now confident of beating anyone’s claims hollow, when they doubt the potential of government school students. “In rural areas, students fear college. It is true many students will be deterred from joining college if the syllabus becomes more difficult. I feel the students should not give in to this mental block and must work hard. At the end of the day, it will be beneficial to them,” he says. The debate does not end with just whether students will cope or not cope with the syllabus.
The larger concern for many is about how the decision will be implemented. Many teachers feel that both the students and teachers should be given more time before embracing the new syllabus on par with CBSE. The change should begin from school and then be extended to college, they feel.
“Most of my students write exams in Kannada. For them, it will be difficult to cope with a more demanding syllabus. They have to be trained from high school,” says Poornima SC, Principal of Rani Saraladevi Education Institute.
The change must begin earlier in the chain in which teachers are trained in BEd colleges, says Veena MS, B Ed lecturer, Sarvajna College of Education. According to her, a majority of teachers who complete BEd course will not have complete knowledge about a concept. To upgrade themselves, the teachers must adopt inquiry mode of teaching. “Why this concept?” must precede “teach this concept,” she concludes.