Difficult portions in SSLC mathematics, science deleted

[dwarakesh]

Certain portions considered difficult in Class X science and mathematics of the SSLC stream have been deleted. Select concept areas, example problems and exercise problems will be excluded from the syllabus for the public examination, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu said here on Monday.

This syllabus, with certain portions deleted, will be followed from the half-yearly examination to be held soon, he added.

In mathematics, students will not be tested on certain specified areas in modular arithmetic, relations and functions, relation between roots and co-efficients, formation of LPP, combined standard deviation and trapezoidal rule.

In physics, chemistry and biology too, certain portions identified as "very difficult" have been deleted. In physics, portions of topics including Path of a projectile, Deduction of Newton's Law of gravitation from Kepler's Law and the Properties of alpha, beta, and gamma rays have been removed.

In chemistry, portions of topics including Effect of catalyst, Manufacture of steel and Laboratory preparation of Ammonia have been deleted.

In Biology, certain questions pertaining to wind pollination, cultivation of Ragi and plasmids have been removed.

"Students were studying what is learnt at B.Sc level. Why should we unnecessarily tax them?' the Minister asked.

Following requests from students, teachers, parents and academician, the Department constituted an experts' committee a few months ago to look into the matter and identify portions that could be done away with.

Scores in the subjects

According to Mr. Thennarasu, analysis of the Class X results over the last couple of years also revealed that students who had done fairly well in most subjects did not score as well in Science and Mathematics alone. "The number of failures in these two subjects was also high."

Last academic year, nearly 8 lakh candidates of the SSLC stream appeared for the Class X examination and recorded a pass percentage of 80.9, a marginal increase from 79.5 per cent secured in 2007. "We were happy about the marginal increase, but we were certain that students were capable of much more."

Addressing press persons in this connection, Mr. Thennarasu said the printing of the Class X textbooks for the next academic year was stopped in anticipation of this change in syllabus.

"The next edition of textbooks will not have these deleted portions," he said. With regard to the Class XII syllabus, he said there was no change.

Source: The Hindu