25th June, 2024
To match pace with the industry requirement and rapidly evolving technological landscape, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced revisions to the curricula and content for various skill subjects, effective from the academic year 2024-25. These changes will impact courses such as Web Application for class XI, Information Technology (IT) for class X, and Artificial Intelligence for classes IX and XI. Moreover, the curriculum for the Web Application subject for class XII is set to be implemented in the academic year 2025-26.
Explaining the dynamics of the skill subjects curricula and the imperative revision, Biswajit Saha, director, Skill Education and Training, CBSE, says, “These are our regular skill subjects wherein we periodically review the curricula as per the job roles. We updated the curricula as per the recommendations of the subject experts and the industry requirements. Our experts are from the academic world and industry, and they are involved in both curriculum and content development. The updated curricula for the skill subjects are being uploaded on the board website for everyone to access.”
As per the revised programme structures, changes in the Web Application course for class XI and Information Technology course for class X will be effective from the 2024-2025 academic session. “We had already modified the IT course for class IX last year, hence it became necessary to revamp the IT curriculum for class X from this academic year. For AI, the modified curriculum will be effective from this year for class IX and XI, and for class X and XII from the next academic session,” informs Saha, adding further that in case of the Web Application course for class XII, the revised curriculum will be effective from the 2025-26 academic session.
Restructuring the curriculum
Computer Science and its allied subjects are constantly evolving given the swift changes in the technology space. “Based on feedback from the teachers and industry experts where it was pointed out that certain web application tools have become obsolete, the need to change the syllabus became all the more important. A committee of experts decided to review the curricula to identify the gaps and accordingly suggest some inclusions and deletions depending on their current relevance,” Saha says, emphasising that the changes were not implemented in between sessions to prepare the teachers through capacity-building programmes both online and physical. “In the next six months, we need to organise at least 25-30 capacity building programmes each for IT, Web Applications and AI at a pan India level followed by master trainer training programmes at the state and district level so that every nook and corner of the country can be covered,” he adds.
It is not as if the entire curriculum is being restructured nor is a new subject being introduced, hence teachers are already well versed in the existing curriculum. “Only certain portions of the syllabus are being revised, for which supplementary materials are being provided,” Saha says.
Key changes
Highlighting some of the changes, Alka Kapur, principal, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, says, “For the Web Application course in classes XI and XII, the curriculum now emphasises on project-based and application-oriented learning. Notable changes include introducing capstone projects in class XI, which were previously part of the Class XII curriculum. Additionally, students must now complete professional development courses and internships, such as IBM Skills Build Certification, boot camps, or other industry certifications. These enhancements aim to provide students with industry exposure and hands-on experience, aligning their skills with current industry standards.”
“The revisions in the IT course for class X and AI course for classes IX and XI are designed to deepen students' understanding of emerging technologies. For AI, the new curriculum includes modules on data literacy, focusing on qualitative and quantitative data, graphical data interpretation, and foundational Mathematics for AI, such as statistics and probability. Generative AI has also been introduced as a new topic,” she says, explaining the changes are focused on bridging the gap between theory and practical as per industry demands. However, getting appropriate hardware to support the newly suggested changes will be a challenge. “For AI-based activities, we need good internet connectivity in labs for all systems; supporting devices like earphones, web cameras, mics, etc, are also a must for good practical exposure in school labs,” Kapur adds.
Elaborating on the curricular changes, Shylaja Menon, principal, The Shri Ram Universal School, Bengaluru, says, “Looking at the Web Application course for class XI and XII, modern applications like Angular and React, web security and responsive design have been added. Older topics like HTML and CSS have been removed as they are not as much in use. In the Information Technology course for class X, the emergence of cloud computing is a meaningful part of the curriculum along with data analytics and ethical hacking. A lot of the content that involves manuals, installation of older software has been removed.”
Since the rate of innovation in web development, IT, and AI is particularly high, it necessitates frequent updates to the curriculum. “Other skill subjects, while important, may not experience the same rapid pace of change. Additionally, there is a demand for technical skills in the job market, particularly in information technology and AI. Revamping these subjects ensures that students become more agile and adaptable to the demands of the modern workforce and are competitive in high-growth industries in the next decade or two,” Menon says.
Source: educationtimes.com
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