PU students welcome Central syllabus for science

Change will help them prepare for national entrance tests, they feel

A large number of students have welcomed the introduction of Central syllabus for science in first pre-university, even though the move faced stiff opposition from a section recently.

The students who support the decision believe that adopting national core curriculum in science will benefit them in the longer run.

The Department of Pre-University Education took the step this year with an attempt to help students prepare for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), planned to be introduced in 2013.

The first year PU students will be studying the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks from this academic year which is on a par with the CBSE syllabus.

The change in the syllabus has pushed the difficulty level up few notches for the students. 

Students agree that they have their hands full with the new syllabus.  The lecturers too are grappling with many new chapters in the textbooks this year.

  “The earlier syllabus provided very little scope for students to think. The textbooks introduced now will hone their application skills,” principal of Vijaya PU College said.

He remarked that upgrading the syllabus was inevitable as global competition in higher education had grown exponentially. He said many have panicked looking at the bulky textbooks. “This does not mean that we shove aside the syllabus.” 

Lecturers are holding refresher courses helping each other upgrade their knowledge in the respective subjects. Recently, the Physics Lecturers’ Association in the City held one such session. 

Deena Tara, principal of BET Sofia PU College, points out that it is important that the high school syllabi are also immediately upgraded to help students cope with the pre-university textbooks.

“Students are finding it difficult because their understanding of the basic concepts is weak. High school is where this has to be set right.” Lecturers observe that it will take at least two years before the new syllabus fits into the system.

That the syllabus is difficult is the first thing every student acknowledges. Yet, many aspiring for national entrance exams and science courses in nationally acclaimed institutions, want to go beyond their initial thought.

Bindu, a I PU student, has chosen PCMB and aspires to clear national-level entrance exams such as the AIEEE and IIT-JEE.

“Students who have studied in the State syllabus are finding it difficult. But this is just an initial glitch. Since a majority of us are aspiring for seats in reputed institutions, I hope this will do us good,”  she said.