Delhi DyCM asks CBSE to give 'very strong' reasons for dropping chapters from curriculum

Opposing CBSE's move to cut chapters like federalism, , etc from Class 9 to 12,  Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has said that CBSE should explain 'very strong' reasons behind move. However, Delhi minister who holds education portfolio added, "I am hopeful that CBSE must have very good reasons for dropping those topics."

Sisodia was quoted saying by news ncy PTI, " Delhi Government has always been a votary of syllabus reduction and I have said so on several occasions as a large syllabus does t mean more learning. I support CBSE's decision to reduce syllabus for academic session 2020-21 in secondary and senior secondary grades but I have reservations and concerns over manner and content of syllabus reduction exercise".

Joining leaders like Mamata Banerjee and ors from Congress in raising an objection to move by CBSE, Sisodia opined that Social science is one discipline where re is "maximum slope of controversy and agree that matter which topics are chosen or left out, questions are bound to be raised. Hence board should have been careful and explain its rationale for dropping certain topics", he said.

READ | 'We object this:' Mamata Banerjee against CBSE's removal of 'vital lessons' from syllabus

CBSE cuts syllabus by 30%

In order to reduce course load, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) tified new syllabus for classes 9 to 12 for 2020-21 academic session on Wednesday after rationalising up to 30 per cent of curriculum. According to updated curriculum, chapters deleted from Class 10 syllabus are those dealing with democracy and diversity, , religion and caste, popular struggles and movement and challenges to democracy.

For Class 11, deleted portions include chapters on federalism, citizenship, nationalism, secularism and growth of local governments in India. Similarly, Class 12 students will t be required to study chapters on India's relations with its neighbours -- Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, changing nature of India's ecomic development, social movements in India and demonetisation, among ors.

READ | Post row, CBSE says revised syllabus being 'interpreted differently'; clarifies stand

CBSE issues clarification 

However, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday clarified that "each of topics that have been wrongly mentioned in media as deleted have been covered under alternative academic calendar of NCERT." In a statement, board also said that rationalization has been "interpreted differently". 

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

READ | CBSE revised curriculum for 2020-21: Up to 30% syllabus rationalized for Class 9-12

READ | CBSE drops Nationalism, citizenship & demonetisation chapters in revised syllabus due to Covid