Common science course for 11th, 12th from 2011

New Delhi: All school boards across India will have a common curriculum in science and mathematics for Classes 11 and 12 from the 2011 academic year to give students a level playing field and help them in competitive examinations, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal announced in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"Today is a historic day for all students. There will be a core curriculum in the science stream (both science and mathematics) for all school boards across India. This will be implemented in 2011," Sibal told reporters.

"This was done with unanimity. This will provide a level playing field for all students studying in Classes 11 and 12," he added.

Sibal met at least 20 school educational boards across India to discuss the core curriculum in the science stream and prepare a draft for the same.

"It's a milestone that all school boards are one on this and want a core curriculum.. We hope it augurs well."

Welcoming the move, Bihar School Education Board chairman A.K.P. Yadav told IANS: "This will bring all students from the country on a single platform - to study a similar course and compete in examinations like IITs and medical entrance."

"In science, all students are competing at the national level. So the science course should be similar across the country. We are fine with this move and hope that students will benefit the most," C L Gupta, chairman of the school education board in Himachal Pradesh, told IANS.

He said the negotiations for this move had started in October 2009 and they "have moved real fast" to achieve such a consensus.

Explaining the decision further, Ashok K. Pandey, principal of the Ahlcon International School in Delhi, said: "The decision is like allowing all cricket teams to play on a similar pitch. With this move, all students will have similar opportunity in facing competitive examinations in streams like medicine and engineering."

The latest move comes as part of the continuing education reforms being ushered in by his ministry.

On Monday, Sibal negotiated with Delhi school principals and reached a consensus to increase the nursery admission age from three years to four.

But it can only be implemented after the Delhi government accepts the recommendations as education is a state subject. Sibal will formally write to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on the matter.

Once the measure is accepted by the Delhi government, nursery admissions will be fixed at four and the admission to kindergarten (KG) will be at the age of five. A child will start his Class 1 formal education at the age of six.