As per a new order, select schools in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh will implement the two-semester system for all students in classes spanning from standards 1 to 9, beginning the next academic year.
The semester system, i.e., having one academic year split into two halves, is followed in colleges and universities for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
However, as per the latest government order released by the Andhra Pradesh government, all the government schools in the state will follow the two-semester system, beginning in the upcoming academic year 2023-24 for students from classes 1-9, and for students of class 10 from the academic year 2024-25.
S Suresh, the Commissioner of School Education has issued the orders to effectively implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and acting on the proposal to switch to a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus.
“Therefore, all the Regional Joint Directors of School Education, District Educational Officers, Additional Project Coordinators of Samagra Shihsha and Principals of DIETs in the State are informed that the state will follow the two-semester system from class I to IX from the academic year 2023-24 and from 2024-25 in respect of Class X,” the government notification read.
As per the officials of the School Education Department, the new semester system will only introduce changes in textbooks, and no moderations shall be made in the format of examinations, with all other procedures remaining unrevised.
In fact, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), which is the academic authority, has begun making changes to the syllabus and textbooks of the following academic year in a phased manner.
These changes are being made after a detailed study on the syllabus, curriculum and textbooks of NCERT, along with other state boards in India and overseas.
However, not everyone is happy with the change that has already started.
The President of Municipal Teachers’ Federation State, S Rama Krishna said that the government should have discussed the matter with school associations, authors of textbooks and subject experts before taking such decisions.
“The textbooks published by SCERT and the exam system of four unit tests, quarterly, half yearly and annual were being implemented smoothly in the State. But the government’s decision to introduce CBSE syllabus will have a negative impact on the current education system,” noted the President of Headmasters’ Association State, GV Narayana Reddy.
