The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recently undertaken a process of “rationalization” in the curriculum, leading to the removal of the periodic table chapter from Class 10 Science textbooks. However, it is important to note that this chapter has been retained in the Class 11 textbooks.
In June 2022, the NCERT officially announced these changes through a circular, which has sparked considerable debate within academic circles. Many experts and educators have expressed their concerns about this decision and its potential impact on students’ understanding of crucial basic Chemistry concepts.
NCERT 2023: Official Circular
In the academic year 2021-2022, a significant number of students, approximately 68 lakh, chose to pursue Arts and Commerce streams, accounting for 54% of the total 1.25 crore students who successfully passed Class 10. This data suggests that a similar number of students may opt for non-science streams in the upcoming years. Consequently, these students may miss out on the opportunity to learn fundamental Chemistry concepts, which are now exclusively available in the Class 11 curriculum.
According to the Ministry of Education’s statistics, only 52.4 lakh students selected the Science stream in higher secondary school in 2022, constituting a mere 42% of all students who passed Class 10. This data further underscores the potential consequences of removing the periodic table chapter from Class 10 textbooks.
The decision made by the NCERT has raised concerns among educators, who argue that access to the periodic table and related concepts is essential for developing a strong foundation in Chemistry. As a result, many are advocating for a reconsideration of the curriculum changes to ensure that students from all streams have access to this fundamental knowledge.
As per the notice by the NCERT, “In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to reduce content load on students.”
