GUWAHATI, Aug 22 - The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) is going to reduce the Higher Secondary syllabus by 30 per cent for the academic year 2020-21 due to coronavirus situation. The step has been taken to ease the curriculum load on the students, looking at the present situation, which has hampered the academic activities in State.
The CBSE has already rationalized its 2020-21 syllabus by 30 per cent for Class IX to Class XII in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources in the AHSEC confirmed that in view of the loss of nearly two and half months of the current academic year, the Council, after a meeting with its academic standing committee, has decided to reduce the syllabus by 30 per cent as a one-time measure to help students cope with the situation.
The course downsizing would include both HS First Year and HS Second Year curriculum and the Council would formally notify its decision by August 31, 2020, sources added.
It may be noted that the State government has drawn up a preliminary plan to reopen schools, particularly for higher classes from September in a staggered manner, subject to go-ahead from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
In AHSEC-affiliated institutions, the HS Second Year classes usually start from the end of April and final exam is held in mid-February. Considering the loss of significant number of academic days due to closure of academic institutions amid lockdown, concern was being expressed at various levels over AHSEC�s silence over either reducing the syllabus or postponing the HS Second Year exam timings.
