Reduction of subjects, exclusion of English; parents express concern that students will lag behind in competitive exams

KOCHI: Parents and teachers are concerned that the recommendation in the Khader Committee report to reduce the core subjects from four to three in the higher secondary and to change the medium of study from English to Malayalam will cause the Kerala syllabus students to lag behind in the national competitive examinations.

After passing Plus Two, a sizable portion of Malayali students appear for NEET, JEE, and other prominent entrance exams across the nation. Reducing the number of core subjects may leave Kerala syllabus students behind in competitive exams. The move can also affect their opportunities to pursue higher studies abroad. In the last Medical Entrance Examination (NEET), students from the Kerala Syllabus had ed 27 marks lower than students from the central syllabus.

Several central syllabus students had switched to the Kerala syllabus after class 10 as English is the medium of study and NCERT is the syllabus for higher secondary. If the number of core subjects is reduced, the students are more likely to show interest in the central syllabus.

Recommendations in report

• It should be considered whether the number of core subjects can be reduced from four to three in classes 11 and 12. Children are having a heavy workload as they have to study four subjects apart from languages.
• Society should be made aware of the need to make mother tongue the medium of study.