TN Board Exams 2020: Students, teachers worried due to lack of clarity over syllabus

According to the reports, the delay is affecting the planning of the schools for conducting online classes.

Board Exams 2020: Teachers and students from both government and private schools are yet to get directives regarding the reduction of TN 10th Syllabus 2021 and TN 12th Syllabus 2021 for this academic year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the reports, the delay is affecting the planning of the schools for conducting online classes. For CBSE schools, the Board has already reduced the CBSE 10th syllabus and CBSE 12th Syllabus and schools are conducting classes based on the revised syllabus. Although the education department announced the truncation of a 40 per cent syllabus for state board students, there is no clarity on what portions have been omitted.

"With little clarity on the revised syllabus, it is difficult to carry on and plan online classes, particularly for classes IX to XII. In case of online classes, it is also difficult to find out how effectively students are able to learn concepts, so the reduction in syllabus would at least lessen the burden and help them focus," the principal of a government-aided school said. Some schools, which have been holding online classes for students since June, have completed more than 50 per cent of the syllabus for Class XII students.
A TN 10th student at a private school, S Keerthana, said that a reduction in the syllabus is supposed to help them be free of stress but the delay in announcement of the new reduced syllabus is only leaving them anxious. "Teachers are having no choice but to complete the entire syllabus. With online classes, it is difficult to learn well, especially subjects like maths and science. Some of my friends have started taking home tuitions to cover the whole syllabus," she said.
While 'Kalvi Tholaikatchi' lessons are based on the reduced syllabus, teachers said that it is difficult to keep track of students' learning. "We are unable to monitor students and hence it is difficult to see if they are actually following the schedule and learning all topics even if it is based on the reduced syllabus," said the headmaster of a government higher secondary school.