I PUC: Hours per subject down to 100

The new Central syllabus introduced in I PUC this year will be reduced to 100 hours per subject from the existing 120 hours. The change will be made effective from this academic year itself.

Under pressure from various academic and students’ quarters, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri resorted to this decision after a meeting with a delegation led by lexicographer Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, members of the All India Save Education Committee (AISEC) and All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO).

“I have assured them that the reduction in the syllabus would be made to 100 hours per subject without compromising on the quality of the syllabus. I have asked for a proposal in this regard. Let us see how we can do it, but it will be effective this academic year,” Kageri told Express.

The delegation initially demanded withdrawal of the Central syllabus as its implementation was ‘hurried’ and ‘abrupt’. The Karnataka State Committee president of AIDSO V N Rajashekhar said, “Due to the abrupt imposition of the Central syllabus for I PUC, students are having a hard time in coping up with it. Even lecturers are unable to teach as they have not been trained.”

However, Kageri is learnt to have told that withdrawal of the syllabus is possible as the syllabus is already under implementation.