The Hindu : Front Page : Teachers hail introduction of practical exam. in Social Studies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 30, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Teachers hail introduction of practical exam. in Social Studies

Staff Reporter

"It offers students a good scope for scoring high marks"

TIRUCHI: Teachers hail introduction of practical component in Social Studies for Standard X public examinations this year by the Central Board for Secondary Education.

The new pattern of examination, split into two segments — 80 marks for theory and 20 marks for project — offers students a good scope for scoring high marks in the subject. They say that incidence of failure in Social Studies was common, despite the minimum pass percentage being 33. With students evincing interest in practical dimension of the subject providing insight into the society, and scoring over 90 per cent marks, the pressure on average or weak students to secure pass marks based on their performance in theory alone has reduced significantly.

The current batch of studentshas performed well in individual projects, warranting a 20-page write-up backed by relevant photographs and on-field study in topics such as consumer awareness, disaster management, transactions without proper billing, price rise and expired medicines, saysD. Rajkumar, Social Studies teacher of R.S.K. Higher Secondary School, Kailasapuram.

The practical component, coupled with the CBSE's decision to hold Social Studies examinations first, to provide enough time to students to concentrate in the subject, has removed the possibility for failure.

An exposure to project was initiated for the students in the last academic year, when they were in standard IX. At present, 20 per cent of History, 40 per cent of Civics, and 20 per cent of Geography constitute 80 per cent theory part for standard IX. Civics has been replaced with Economics for standard X.

Grey area

History has been the grey area for students. But the study of History has been confined to the study of two aspects: `India's struggle for Freedom' and `Indian Heritage' with particular reference to monuments of religious importance.

The project has come as a solace for students who are bogged down by a voluminous chapter on `India's Struggle for Freedom.'

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