West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on November 26 said the state has accepted the expert panel’s recommendations to reduce curriculum for secondary (Class 10) and higher secondary (Class 12) levels by 30-35 percent, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The secondary board council, higher secondary council and syllabus reforms committee have suggested changes in Madhyamik (class 10) and Uchha Madhyamik (class 12) curriculum for academic year 2020-21 due to COVID-19. We have accepted their report for reducing the syllabus load for these levels,” Chatterjee said.
A committee official told PTI the recommended cut is for 30-35 percent of the course load.
On dates for next year’s secondary and higher secondary exams, Chatterjee said dates will be announced by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education “at an appropriate time.”
He added that the education department would “ensure” that schools take necessary COVID-19 safety measures before reopening, and that as of now there is “no immediate possibility” of reopening schools.
(With inputs from PTI)