In a statement, the council rationalized the reduction by stating they wanted to reduce the content load on students in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. On June 1, India cut a slew of foundational topics from tenth grade textbooks, including the periodic table of elements, Darwin’s theory of evolution, the Pythagorean theorem, sources of energy, sustainable management of natural resources and contribution of agriculture to the national economy, among others. These changes effectively block a major swath of Indian students from exposure to evolution through textbooks, because tenth grade is the last year mandatory science classes are offered in Indian schools.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/evolution-periodic-table-to-stay-part-of-class-9-10-syllabus/articleshow/101058188.cms

  • pocker_machine@lemmy.world
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    9 days ago

    PEOPLE FALLING FOR THIS SHIT AGAIN IS INSANE !

    They haven’t removed the Pythagorean theorem, it seems to be taught in lower grades. This is Pythagorean theorem for the similarity of triangles, which was dropped to remove burden during pandemic.

    Periodic tables and evolution are moved to one or two grade higher. NOT DROPPED.

    There you go. Now you have the facts. Enjoy the rest of your day 🫡

    • Murvel@lemm.ee
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      9 days ago

      What the hell are you talking about!? It says in the article that these three subjects have been moved out of mandatory learning.

      Meaning that most Indian students won’t understand the basic principles of evolution or the most simple understanding of the composition of elements.

      Not considering either of these three to be essential mandatory learning is insane.

      • pocker_machine@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        The syllabus includes of related topics way before in 6th or 7th grade. Some of them are often repeated (may be even intentionally). They learn about elements and their composition in 7th or 8th grade. After having all that, if student is inclined to it they learn more in 11th and 12th grades. Most of students follow up to 12th in India. If you are so concerned go check the textbooks yourself - https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

        Although I don’t suppose most people won’t do that because why put the effort to understand things when you can spew dumb opinions around ?

        The reason the topics were rationalised to improve remote learning and reduce burden on students during exams in a country where suicide rates among students due to exams and societal pressures is a real concern.

        The way people have been reacting to this is as if students coming out of school are dumb fucks with no scientific knowledge. I bet the ones commenting here doesn’t even know half of what those students know.

        • Murvel@lemm.ee
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          8 days ago

          Again, quoting the article, it says that many students (although maybe not most) will graduate without an understanding of these three subjects.

          How can that be considered a positive, and what’s even more; acceptable?!

                • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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                  8 days ago

                  What secondary sources do you propose we trust? Deutsche-Welle has a reputation for fact-checking and retractions. What’s your source that students who don’t major in math or biology will learn these?

                  • Voltage@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    8 days ago

                    the source is the link to the ncert textbooks he linked, Go through that from 7th Grade to 10th. “Douche-willi”.

      • Voltage@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 days ago

        10th grade is mandatory but 90% of students who studied till 10th WILL study 11th and 12th. In 10th grade they WILL learn pythagoras theorem periodic table and evolution, just not as deep into it as it used to.

    • thetreesaysbark@sh.itjust.works
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      9 days ago

      It says in the post that 10th grade is the last mandatory grade, so this means many students will miss out on learning about evolution, no?

      • batshit@lemmings.world
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        9 days ago

        Correct. After 10th grade, you can choose a “stream” (course). You can choose between science, commerce, or humanities. What’s worse is that each stream has multiple branches, and biology is not included in all the branches. So if you were to choose computer science branch in the science stream, you will not take any biology classes.

        So a vast majority of students would never learn about some very important scientific concepts if this was implemented, but I’m not sure if they reversed this decision or not.

    • Clot@lemm.ee
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      9 days ago

      Evolution is dropped from mandatory and is only taught to students who opt to learn biology, after high school.

    • Draces@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      These changes effectively block a major swath of Indian students from exposure to evolution through textbooks, because tenth grade is the last year mandatory science classes are offered in Indian schools.

      I know nothing of India’s education system. Does this mean it’s in an optional class now or is this totally wrong?

      • Clot@lemm.ee
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        9 days ago

        Its totally correct, 10th is last mandatory grade, after that you can choose which subject you wanna study for 11th and 12th

      • portuga@lemmy.world
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        9 days ago

        Kids in india in a few years: the sum of the square of the cathedrals equals the hypothesis

    • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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      8 days ago

      as said below, that’s the last mandatory grade

      This is Pythagorean theorem for the similarity of triangles

      could you source that?

    • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      That’s what the article says and nothing about the title conflicts with it. These are all pretty basic concepts that should be taught early.

    • Damage@feddit.it
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      9 days ago

      Also 'cuz I’d like to see how they could progress in the curricula without Pythagoras and the periodic table.

    • Suzune@ani.social
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      9 days ago

      Thanks for that. I hate people who leave out important information and context. They are evil.