Syllabus for Classes 1 to 9 may be reduced further

However, official sources added that there will be no change in the case of Classes 10, 11 and 12 that have board exams. When the state government announced reopening of schools allowing students from Classes 10 to come on a voluntary basis to clarify their doubts, the expert panel that was constituted to look into ways to make up for academic loss was about to announce the reduced syllabus.

 “However, it was postponed after the government withdrew its order to reopen the schools and is yet to announce fresh dates,” said a senior official from the School Education Department.

 The panel had prepared the report under the assumption that schools could be reopened in October. But now, with the reopening getting postponed indefinitely, they are reworking the report, the official said.

 “The syllabus that was proposed to be truncated by 40 per cent might be reduced by 45 per cent depending on the government decision,” he added. However, it would not be reduced beyond 40 per cent for board exam students.

 “For students of Classes 10 to 12, the government is considering extension of academic year and also postpone the annual exams,” said the official.

 Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran said the truncated syllabus should be announced at the earliest so that teachers could prepare well before schools reopen.

 “The delay in announcing the altered syllabus has already created stress among teachers and students,” he added.

 KR Nandhakumar, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Nursery, Primary, Matriculation, Higher Secondary and CBSE Schools Association, said the government should also take steps to reopen schools as many parents are willing to send their children.