THE mathematics of school examinations is about to change. The logic: per-mutations and combinations have always thrown up the best results. In what is being dubbed as a progressive move, the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (ISCE) recently announced its decision to make maths and science optional subjects in Class IX. Subjects that children with "special abilities" in the 813 Indian schools affiliated to the Board neednot be burdened with for the Class X exams.
"Three years of discussions with parents, principals plus seminars and surveys have convinced us that flexibility in the curriculums framework is much better than failures and dropouts," says F. Fanthome, the Councils chief executive and secretary.
Come 1999, those suffering from mathphobia can drop the subject and science to opt for economics, environmental science or a foreign language amongst others. English, a second language, civics, history and geography will be compulsory.
"Students will be allowed to drop the subjects only after consulting the principal, teachers and parents," assures D.E.W. Shaw, additional secretary, ISCE, and former principal at Lucknows La Martiniere College and Mumbais Cathedral and John Cannon School. "Why drum numbers into a student who cant cope with them? He might become a great fashion designer if he isnt made to believe that he is a lousy student in Class X," he reasons.
Applauding the decision as "extremely liberal and well-timed", the principal of ISCE-affiliated Doon School, J.A. Mason says that this choice will provide an early push to students who are confident about their career plans. "Those who think this choice is offered too early in life can still take up maths and science. The option is for those who cant cope or have a marked flair for humanities," the principal observes.
The National Open School, CBSEs correspondence course and some other boards already offer this mathless option for Class IX examinees. "High time this became an option in mainstream schooling," says Fanthome. "Hopefully, others will follow suit. Our education system must adjust to the student rather than expecting the student to adjust to it," says Kusum Jain of Delhi-based NGO Parents Forum for Meaningful Education. Insisting that the choice of subjects should remain as liberal even in the higher classes, Jain asks: "Why should she who wants to study biology not be allowed to study history along with it? Why such rigidity? And to what end such education? The ISCEs decision is certainly progressive!"
But there are also those who are doubtful. Like director of the National Council for Educational Research and Training Prof. A.K. Sharma, who feels: "Scaling down maths from a point that it might not be relevant for some students later is understandable. But to give the child an option to completely give it up at Class X isnt correct." Then again, subtracting math and science from the syllabus might add up to success for many students.
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