The new Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum has signaled a lot of concern for parents and guardians on the effect it would have on their wards during the upcoming summer break.
With the new CBSE curriculum schools under the union or affiliated to it would have to attend classes in April, depriving them of their vacation during the summer.
Notably, while schools under the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education end their academic term in March and break for summer holidays in April-May.
The schools under the CSBE in Maharashtra would have to attend school, additionally, the central board reportedly has at least 1,000 schools affiliated to it in the state.
Universities reaction to the CBSE curriculum
The new CBSE curriculum has been received with mixed reactions from experts and stakeholders in the Maharashtra education district.
Arpita Karkare, Director, Walnut school located at Phursungi, explained the decision to hold classes during April lies mostly in the hands of the management.
He noted that there are guidelines in the bylaws under which the local affiliated schools can choose their holidays according to local weather conditions, as they are not enforced on them.
Additionally, Karkare noted that Walnut School and some other CBSE schools such as Vikhe Patil Memorial School, Dnyan Prabhodini School, among others, do not hold classes during April-May.
However, a few CBSE schools like the Orchid School, DAV Public School, Sanskriti, and Gurukul are used to the old pattern of conducting classes until April end.
Geeta Pillai, principal, Indira National School, Wakad, noted his institution recently became affiliated with the board and planned to follow the new CBSE curriculum.
He said:
If we give a break in April and May like the other Maharashtra board schools, then there won’t be enough time to complete the syllabus.
Pallavi Naik, Kalmadi High School principal, had a similar declaration, noting they are new members in the CSBE and intend to follow its regulation.
Karkare also said:
Every CBSE school followed a continuous evaluation system under which the theory examination was of 90 marks and the rest for internal exams. This changed two years ago, and the final board exam is now of only 30 marks and 70 marks are allocated for internal exams.
Parent reaction
Parents have expressed mixed opinions to the board rule, several noted their dissatisfaction with the state’s new CBSE curriculum, while some said it is what’s best of their children’s education.
Kalyani Phadnis, a parent of one of the students, said:
I believe the schools should follow the state-wise pattern. The functioning of the school in April is troublesome for the children, as their routines and those of their friends’ (who go to other schools) don’t match.
