PUNE: Keeping in mind the aim of holistic development of students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made changes to be implemented from the upcoming academic year, from April 2019.
Students of Classes I to VIII will have one period every day in Health and Physical Education (HPE), thus making the period mandatory for Classes I to XII. In a circular last year, the Board made it compulsory for Classes IX to XII.
The circular states, “The schools are advised that while preparing a timetable for session 2019-20, one period every day can be reserved for HPE for Std I to VII from academic session 2019-20 onwards. The revised and updated transactional strategies, detailed guidelines and methodology for administering the HPE to students will be available on the CBSE website shortly.”
Also, the subjects of Artificial Intelligence, Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) and Yoga will be introduced for the students of Std VIII and IX.
“CBSE is introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an optional sixth subject at Class IX from the Session 2019-2020 onwards. To enhance the multidisciplinary approach in teaching learning and also to sensitise the new generation, it was decided that schools may start AI ‘Inspire module’ of 12 hours at Class VIII itself,” the circular states.
Considering the demand of schools supplemented by various reports that projected the huge requirement of Yoga professionals and Early Childhood educators, the Board has decided to introduce Yoga and Early Childhood Education as an elective subject at senior secondary level from this academic session.
“Yoga will teach a way of living that aims at a healthy mind in a healthy body, whereas Early Childhood Education will prepare the students to teach children of nursery and kindergarten classes through Montessori, happy education or other systems of child-centric education,” the circular adds.
SKILL SUBJECTS
- Beside these new programmes, the Board is offering skill subjects at the secondary and senior secondary level to upgrade the skills and proficiency of the students. At the secondary level, a skill subject may be offered as an additional sixth subject along with the existing five compulsory subjects.
- If any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects (i.e. Science, Mathematics and Social Science), then it will be replaced by the skill subject, and the result of Class X will be computed based on best five subjects.
- At the senior secondary level, the school should offer at least one or more skill-based subject as elective subject out of the 42 subjects.
- The application for introducing the skill subjects for session 2019-2020 should be sent to CBSE by May 31, 2019.
