Uniform Syllabus move leaves Matriculation Schools in a fix

They are unable to place orders for textbooks with private publishers

Tiruchi: Matriculation schools are in a quandary: They are unable to place orders for textbooks with private publishers following the State Government’s move to enforce a uniform syllabus.

As there are indications from the Directorate of School Education that the uniform syllabus is most likely to come into force from the next academic year, the matriculation schools, it seems, will have to procure books under the new pattern from the Tamil Nadu Text book Society, as the government schools do.

Though the matriculation schools unanimously argue that the move is “ill-conceived,” they are not desperate, since they believe that the crux of the matter lies in the delivery mechanism, and not in the syllabus.

They cite the instance of students thronging private schools for higher secondary education, through the syllabus is common under all patterns, barring the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).

Even as the matriculation schools are bracing for the eventuality, the view gaining ground among academics is that against the backdrop of globalization and a competitive post-school scenario forcing uniformity in syllabus could turn counter-productive.

For, it not only means regression in the form of dilution of syllabus for the matriculation pattern by also will reflect in the enhancement of the existing standard under the State Board pattern.

As a result, the number of dropouts, especially in rural areas, will increase manifold. Rural schools are already grappling with the problem, headmasters acknowledge.

The plans of some matriculation schools to switch over to the CBSE pattern to maintain exclusively is likely to be thwarted.

According to the informed scores, the Directorate of School Education has decided not to sanction No Objection Certificates to educational bodies or trust running the matriculation schools.

Uniform Syllabus move leaves Matriculation Schools in a fix