KOLKATA: Plus-two students across India could be studying the same course for science and math from the 2011-12 session. Aimed at bringing about uniformity in the syllabus and helping students prepare better for competitive exams, the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE) a forum of school education boards in the country has proposed a common course for all national and regional boards. A draft of the new syllabus will be sent to the boards by the end of December for their consideration and approval.

COBSE officials believe this will help remove the notion that some boards are geared more towards competitive exams such as IIT-JEE while others are not. The issue was discussed at a meeting of the heads of ICSE schools in Lucknow last week.

”There is a long-standing view among students that the CBSE course is better suited for entrance exams. It was felt that other than helping remove this impression, a common syllabus will lead to better assessment and ensure a level playing field for entrance exam candidates across India. If all the boards agree, the first common syllabus exam could be taken in 2012,” said Jerry Arathoon, officiating chief executive, ICSE.

It will not be mandatory for schools to accept the syllabus. A majority of the boards, whose representatives were present at the meeting, agreed to adopt the common course. Regional boards, too, have agreed in principle. “We must have a look at the syllabus first to see if it suits us. The idea has our endorsement and we believe this is a good move,” added Arathoon.

A common syllabus, some felt, would serve no purpose. “I believe the CBSE syllabus is comprehensive enough and there is no need to adopt a new course. If other boards like ICSE feel they have some deficiency, they can borrow ideas from us or other boards,'' said Mukta Nain, principal of Kolkata's Birla High School.

Meanwhile, the ICSE board has decided to lay more emphasis on spoken English skills. From the 2011 session, the English paper I of ICSE and ISC exams will have a listening and speaking skill component that will be assessed internally by schools. While ICSE students will take the test in Class IX, those in ISC will take it in Class XI.

“Communication skills are very important now. So, we have decided to help students develop the skill. English language teaching has always been very strong in our board. This will strengthen it further,” said Arathoon.

From the 2011 session, English exams will have a three-hour duration instead of the present two-and-a-half. The number of textbooks, too, is being increased from two to three.

Class X ICSE students will no longer have to pass in the second language for admission to Class XI. The environmental education paper will become a part of other relevant subjects and will not be a separate paper from 2013, it has been announced.

source: TOI