New Delhi: Students up to class eight, studying in the government schools of Delhi, will get a relief from carrying heavy bags on their shoulders to schools.
Delhi Government has completed the work to reduce the school syllabus by 25%. The decision will be implemented across Delhi Government schools in October.
Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia made this announcement on Teachers Day on Saturday.
He said the AAP-led Government is fulfilling the election promise it had made to the parents, teachers and students.
According to Sisodia, Department of Education has been working on this plan of reducing the school syllabus by 25% up to class eight and added that it has completed its consultations with educationists, experts, teachers and parents on this issue.
Sisodia announced that this decision will be implemented in the government schools of Delhi by next month.
He further said the future of children cannot be allowed to be burdened by their heavy school bags.
It was deliberated at length whether such a major decision should be taken midway during an academic year, and the consensus emerged that since the decision is about reduction in the syllabus, it is the correct time to do it.
Sisodia said it has been felt that certain outdated topics which have no present day relevance and therefore these are being done away with.
The government is of the view that for all round development of children their participation in the fields of sports, art and culture, literature, music and theatre needs to be encouraged and increased.
Sisodia said due to heavy workload of their school syllabus they are unable to get time for activities which are crucial for their all round development.
The Deputy Chief Minister announced that from next year, Delhi Government will reduce the syllabus of classes 9-12 also by 25%.
The outdated and obsolete syllabus will be replaced by skill development, theatre, art, music and sports in the curriculum for classes 9-12. The Department of Education is working in this direction, Sisodia said.
Recalling his last meeting with former President late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Sisodia said the former President had suggested that school students who pass class XII should be given two certificates – First on the student’s educational qualification and second certificate should be about the skill development qualification of the student. This will help students in having better employment opportunities and will also help them in higher education.
Sisodia said the Delhi government has already started work on the suggestions of late Dr Kalam and reduction in school syllabus is a result of this valuable suggestion.