SEBA: No plan to reduce syllabus load for 2020-21

* 'Assam has lost around 90 academic days so far; CBSE decision premature'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) has no plan to reduce the syllabus load for the current academic year (2020-21) in view of the COVID-19 lockdown in the State. The Board is confident of completing the syllabus as the State has so far lost around 90 academic days due to lockdown since the mid of March.

The development assumes significance as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to reduce 30 per cent syllabus for students studying in Classes IX to XII. Following the CBSE decision, some States education boards have also decided to reduce the curriculum load for students.

"I think the CBSE's decision is a little premature. It is not pragmatic to take any decision at this juncture when we still do not know about the fate of the fight against COVID-19 in the coming days. Assam has so far lost around 90 academic days due to closure of schools since March. Since the State Government has already decided to extend the present academic year up to March 31, 2021, we are confident of completing the syllabus in time," SEBA Chairman Ramesh Chandra Jain told The Sentinel on Saturday.

When asked categorically about the reduction of syllabus load at least for students studying in Class-X who will appear in the HSLC or Matric exams in 2021, Jain said that it is too early to take a call. He said the entire issue will depend as how the COVID-19 scene turns up in the next two or three months.

Jain further said that the State Education department is ready with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to reopen schools. The higher classes (IX, X, XI & XII) will be reopened in the first phase by maintaining social distance. The lower classes will be reopened in a phased manner, he said.

"But it is also early to comment about the timing for the reopening of schools. We do not want to take any decision on the basis of a hypothetical situation," the SEBA Chairman added. 

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