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Major changes in school curriculum

Divisions in subjects to be phased out


Published : 29 Nov 2019 09:41 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 01:31 AM

The government is bringing major changes in the curriculum from 1st to 9th grade to maintain standard and uniformity in school education. Such change has been proposed as the government plans to phase out divisions in science, business and humanities from the ninth-grade.

All students will follow and study the same textbook under the same curriculum in 9th and 10th grade. It will allow a student to gain knowledge of all subjects at the secondary level. The subject division will start from the 11th and 12th grade. In this regard, decisions are being taken at the government level by conducting workshops on curriculum development. In addition to the curriculum changes, some contents in the textbooks will also be changed. This is the first time that the curriculum at primary and secondary levels is being changed and adjusted together.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) sources revealed this information. According to sources, new books will be printed in accordance with the new curriculum. The preparations for this have already begun. In 2021, 1st grade and 6th-grade students will receive new textbooks having a new curriculum. The new curriculum of at level will be finalized in mid-2020, with the target of distributing the books in time. The curriculum for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades will be changed in 2022 and 5th-grade textbooks will be changed in 2023.

Textbooks of 7th, 9th and 11th grade will change in 2022. In 2021, the 8th-grade textbook will be changed. Among the major changes in the curriculum will be the introduction of a group system from the 8th grade. As a result, there will be no science, humanities or commerce at this level.

Authorities concerned expect that till 10th grade, all students will have the same knowledge in all subjects. If the ninth-grade science, business education and humanities departments are taken out, there will be a new curriculum and new textbooks from 2023 onwards. Another important factor is to reduce the number of public-school exams. As a result, the amount of continuous assessment in the classroom will be increased. 

Continuous assessment of all issues will take place with tests of 20 marks. At present, the domestic economy and agricultural examination are being continuously evaluated in the educational institute. The new curriculum will include all subjects. It is reported that the curriculum is being changed at the primary level based on a contemporary situation. Factors that will enhance students' knowledge will be included. The textbook will include disaster management, anti-terrorism and national security issues. In addition to teaching in the classroom, emphasis will be given to technical skills. 

Sports or physical education will be included as well. Member of the NCTB (Primary Education) Professor Dr AKM Riazul Hassan said, ‘Earlier, there was no coordination in the curriculum at the primary and secondary levels as the curriculum changed at different times for primary and secondary. This time the curriculum of primary and secondary is being refined simultaneously. Therefore, students will not have to suffer.’

The Ministry of Education officials said the academics had proposed to make five subjects compulsory and two optional in the sixth to eighth grade. There will be public examination of all 10 subjects, including optional ones.