By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As there are very few takers for vocational subjects and academic electives, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will discontinue the subjects for Class X and Plus Two from the next academic session, 2017-18.



Circulars issued by the board on Thursday directed all schools offering the subjects to discontinue, but students pursuing these subjects currently in Class XI shall continue in Class XII. For Class X students also who take up these subjects as compulsory sixth subject under National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF), it will be discontinued.



The board issued two circulars, one each for classes X and XII. The circular for Class XII issued by Manoj K Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Academic, says: “Schools are advised not to offer these subjects at the senior secondary level from the forthcoming session of 2017-18.

However, students pursuing these subjects currently in Class XI shall continue with them in Class XII and shall appear in the same subject in Class XII examinations as per the senior secondary curriculum for 2017-18.” It also listed about seven academic electives and 34 vocational subjects at the senior secondary level that are to be withdrawn by schools.



The circular for Class X by RK Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBSE, says the existing assessment scheme followed by schools offering vocational subject as compulsory sixth subject under NSQF stands discontinued.

However, for class X students with compulsory vocational subject appearing in academic year 2016-17 examination, the existing scheme would apply, the circular said.



The circular also gave a revised scheme of studies under NSQF. According to the revised scheme, if any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects, which include Science, Maths and Social Science, then “it will be replaced by the vocational subject and result of class X Board will be computed accordingly”, reads the circular.



Many schools were relieved by the board’s decision since most of them were unable to attract students for these courses. S Namasivayam, Principal of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, said for the past several years there were very limited takers for these subjects. This year his school did not get even a single student.



“We have not opened the vocational group this year. Discontinuing it will makes financial sense. To get a teacher, we need to pay around `40,000 per month. If there are just four-five students, who pay a maximum of `1 lakh each, the returns will be miniscule,” he said.

Echoing him, Radhika Unni, Principal of SBOA School, said because of few takers, for the past several years, the school had not opened this group.



Another Senior Principal of a CBSE school said this decision has been taken because there was lack of response from both parents and students.