AP begins work on drafting syllabus for English schools

Vijayawada: The state government has begun a mega exercise to prepare syllabus and print textbooks for lakhs of children for the English medium from the next academic year.

All ZP, MPP, Government and Aided schools in the state will be converted into English medium from Class I to VI and preparations are in full swing to introduce English medium.

The Education department has gained experience with converting hundreds of Municipal schools in Urban areas from Telugu and Urdu medium into English medium since 2017.

In many municipalities, teachers are imparting education in both Telugu and English medium for the convenience of students. The experience will be useful to train teachers and motivate them to teach in English medium in rural areas too.

Keeping in view of the background of students of rural areas, the government has decided to reduce the syllabus from the next academic year and make learning easy.

The government has constituted teams with experts in English language, subjects, professors of reputed institutions across the country.

The teams are visiting states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and some north Indian states to study textbooks, syllabus in English medium and implement the same in the state the easiest and simple way.

The Education department is taking the help of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) experts to prepare syllabus which may be completed in 150 days. The remaining 70 days of the academic year will be used for revision of lessons and preparation for examination.

Average working days are 220 in the academic year in the state.

Since, apprehensions are expressed that most teachers may face difficulties to teach lessons in English with change of medium, the government has decided to give training to the teachers even before the start of the next academic year.

A senior teacher who is taking part in the preparation of syllabus said the Education department is also studying textbooks of school children of the US, UK, Singapore and Sri Lanka to get ideas to prepare simple and useful syllabus that suits rural children to pursue and learn easily.

The government has to distribute the textbooks to children by the second week of June next year. So, preparations are already started for printing of books. Moreover, the teaching community should get prepared to teach the lessons in English.

Senior teachers with experience of 15 to 20 years of teaching in Telugu and Urdu language may face some difficulties to teach in English from the next academic year.

Keeping in view of the difficulties may be faced by teachers, the Education department will conduct training classes three times before May 2020.