Trimester system for Class 8 to be scrapped

The trimester pattern for Classes 1 to 8 was implemented in a bid to reduce the burden of students having to carrying heavy bags. Accordingly, under the pattern of education, an academic year has been divided into three terms and colourful textbooks for each term were supplied to students without compromising on the content and competency level.

In addition, under the trimester system, lessons handled in one term will not be carried forward to the successive terms.

The trimester system also gained wide appreciation from parents and academicians who concurred that the burden of carrying textbooks reduced substantially and that learning also became comparatively easier.

Hence, the Directorate of School Education’s move to remove trimester system coming against the backdrop of the announcement that board examination will be conducted for Class 8 too has met considerable opposition.

A senior official from the School Education department told DT Next that as annual examination was made compulsory for Class 8 students, it has been decided to scrap the trimester system.

Accordingly, the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) for Class 8 students will also be scrapped so that they get accustomed to the annual examination pattern. CCE was introduced for Classes 1 to 9 when the AIADMK came to power in 2011. CCE involves two systems, namely Summative Assessment (SA) and Formative Assessment (FA). While SA involves examination conducted at the end of every academic year, FA takes of projects and practicals. With CCE scrapped for Class 9 students last year. it will be now be made available for Classes 1 to 7.

Opposing the government move, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association President P K Ilamaran said that the children would now have to carry heavy school bags, which would affect their health. “The trimester system was introduced only after consulting with various psychology experts. If it has been scrapped, students not only have to carry heavy bags but also are burdened in studying the full book for annual examination,” he added.