AHSEC Syllabus: New Chapters on Demography And NRC Introduced, Bihu To Follow Suit

GUWAHATI: In order to make education in sync with reality, the AHSEC (Assam Higher Secondary Education Council) has introduced two new chapters – demography and NRC (National Register of Citizens) – in the subject, Swadesh Adhyayan, for Class-XII. The Council is also going to introduce Bihu as an HS subject from the academic session 2020-21. The subject ‘Swadesh Adhyayan’ is a perfect blend of History and Geography with 43 marks from each, besides 14 marks for practical and viva voce. The subject is intended to make students ever ready for competitive examinations. It was first introduced in 2018-19 for Class-XI. It has evoked response in the first year with around 20,000 students taking it.

Talking to The Sentinel, AHSEC’s Deputy Secretary (Academic) Anurupa Choudhury said: “In this subject (Swadesh Adhyayan) the focus is on Assam in Class-XI and on Assam and the Northeast in Class-XII. We’re going to include topics like demography and NRC for the students of Class-XII in this subject. Such topics have relevance in society. The units included under demography are – demographic distribution, composition, migration and their problems and prospects.”

Choudhury said: “Introducing Bihu as a subject is indeed a daunting task. The folk dance varies from place to place, besides its whole lot of types like Bihu Husory, Zeng Bihu, Bihu Naam etc. Bihu exponents themselves differ much in their opinions on this dance. The Council gave its approval for the introduction of Bihu as a subject at a meeting on April 24 this year. A meeting between educationists and Bihu exponents was also held on May 10 this year. The 34 Bihu exponents who took part at the meeting gave their opinions that are being accommodated. At present Bihu is a chapter in the subject ‘Music’. Bihu as a subject will have 60 marks for theory and 40 marks for practical.”

Choudhury said introducing new subjects and including new topics in the existing subjects are meant to make education in sync with reality. “The AHSEC has the distinction of being the first Council in the nation to introduce GST (goods and service tax) in the Higher Secondary Economics in 2017 soon after its implementation in the nation. Likewise, in 2016 we introduced Environmental Science as a compulsory subject when very few education councils in the nation introduced it. We’ve introduced new chapters like road safety in this subject. The subject carries 50 marks that are given in a grading system,” she said.

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