Draft syllabus can end rote learning: Experts

The content presented online is comprehensive, running to over 500 pages that include the preamble and the details about the new syllabus. The preamble lays emphasis on the two-language formula, the mother tongue and English, giving importance to learning through the mother tongue. The paper for each subject reflects on the formulation of the syllabus and the curricular areas which will be part of the textbooks.

Educationist Prince Gajendra Babu says, “The document made available is vast but the preamble looks promising. A lot of focus is on Tamil language and the issues of the state.” Though educationists are positive about the new syllabus they say that it has to be complemented with new-age teaching techniques.

“When it comes to the syllabus for the primary classes, the content is almost the same, but the kind of books made available to them and the teaching techniques will make a lot of difference.

How would a teacher explain a simple topic as ‘air’ to primary school children will have to be seen,” says educationist Madhumati N.

Apart from the core subjects, eleven vocational subjects, are also included. Pavittra Aroon, educational consultant associated with Auuro Educational Services, says, “The best part about the new syllabus is the diversity given for vocational subjects.”