Now, TN Arts & Science colleges will have common revamped syllabus

CHENNAI: After it was done for the engineering and polytechnic courses, the Tamil Nadu government is all set to revamp the common syllabus of students studying in Arts and Science colleges. The new syllabus was already introduced even for vocational courses.

The Higher Education Department's move came against the backdrop of several suggestions from academicians that the existing curriculum in Arts and Science courses was outdated and it was not on par with the requirements of the industries.

A senior official from the Higher Education Department told DT Next the curriculum pattern was not changed for several years for both Arts and Science courses and now students, who already pursued these courses, were facing difficulties to get job opportunities not only across the state but also in other regions.

"Though the gross enrolment ratio of the state has increased to 51.4% as against the national average of 27.1%, still a gap between students seeking employment and available job opportunities has increased since the syllabus was not changed in these streams for a long time", he added.

Stating that a high-level committee comprising educationists and experts has been constituted to revamp the syllabus for Arts and Science courses in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), the official said "during the first phase, the syllabus will be amended for the first year and second-year students".

He said that a draft syllabus would be released soon to seek further feedback and suggestions from the educationists and as well as public. "After taking the genuine feedback, the draft syllabus would be further altered before submitting the final report to the government".

Claiming that after changing the curriculum for final year students, more job opportunities will be available for the students in the state, he said "priority will be given for the practicals in Science streams".

Pointing out that as the state government has granted permission to start ten new government Arts and Science colleges in 2022-2023 at the cost of Rs 25 crore in various districts, the official said "these colleges will begin with the new curriculum.