Department division is returning again in class 9, circular issued

The interim government has decided to return the division (in science, humanities and business education etc.) which was removed in class 9 during the previous government's tenure. Many subjects of the same 2012 syllabus are being brought back. According to the new decision, the students who will enter Class IX next year will get branch-wise and cluster-wise revised textbooks (used in 2023 academic year) as per the old syllabus. As before, they will complete the curriculum in two academic years, ninth and tenth together, and will take the SSC and equivalent exams in 2027.

On Sunday (September 1), the Ministry of Education announced various decisions including curriculum and textbooks. The interim government was formed on August 8 after the departure of the Sheikh Hasina government through mass movement of students. Since then, the issue of dropping the new curriculum or changing many things comes into discussion. Now the Ministry of Education announced the position of the government by issuing a circular in this regard.

The circular of the Ministry of Education mentions that the new curriculum has become irrelevant. In this regard, it is said that according to the field experience as well as the opinion of the participants, research and survey information about the National Curriculum-2022, lack of necessary preparation of teachers to implement this curriculum, ambiguity and negative perception about the curriculum content and assessment method, obvious lack of institutional capacity, etc. This curriculum appears to be unworkable as problems exist. It is in this context that these instructions have been given.

Earlier last year, the new curriculum was started in classes I, VI and VII. This year (2024) new curriculum is introduced in four more classes. The classes are second, third, eighth and ninth. According to the previous plan, it was supposed to be introduced in all classes up to the middle school through the introduction of the new curriculum in the fourth, fifth and tenth classes next year. After that, in 2026, 11th class and 12th class in 2027 were supposed to be launched in the new curriculum. Major changes were made in many aspects including assessment in the new curriculum. One of the changes was the elimination of department division in secondary schools from this year.

In this new rule, all the students had to study 10 common subjects till class 10th. Until now, everyone had to study the same subject till the eighth grade, in the ninth grade, they had to study separate sections like science, humanities and business education etc., i.e. some compulsory subjects as well as some cluster-based specialized subjects. And if it was implemented, the SSC exam would be conducted only on the basis of class 10 syllabus. According to the new decision, the SSC exam will be based on the old syllabus of class 9 and 10. Those currently studying in Class IX will enter Class X next January. Regarding them, it is said in the circular, to provide revised and revised textbooks prepared in the light of the 2012 curriculum (books used in 2023) to the students who have passed the 10th standard in 2025 to take the SSC and equivalent examination (to be held in 2026) while continuing the science, humanities and business education branches. will be A short syllabus of these department wise textbooks will be developed so that students can complete the syllabus within one academic year. To put it very simply, now the students who are studying in class 9 will also give the SSC exam through division. Their teaching and evaluation system will be as per National Curriculum-2012. That is, it will be the way it has been tested for so long.

On the other hand, during the rest of this year and in the annual examination, the students studying in classes VI, VII, VIII and IX will be evaluated on the revised and revised evaluation system. Note, in order to complete the class activities within the stipulated time, the remaining six subject-wise evaluation activities of each of the sixth to ninth classes will not be held. Means the rest of the semi-annual or semi-annual evaluation is not being done. Based on the revised and revised evaluation outline, the annual examination of classes VI to IX this year will be held by next December. The outline of revised and revised evaluation system will be sent to schools soon. However, the current textbooks for classes VI, VII, VIII and IX will remain in place this year. But in 2025 revised and updated textbooks will be provided as possible.

In addition, the Ministry of Education has decided to continue with the textbooks of pre-primary, minority groups and first, second and third classes at the primary education level, and already the manuscripts of the fourth and fifth class textbooks will be printed with necessary corrections and revisions. In this case, necessary changes will be made in the teaching method and evaluation process. In this case, as far as possible the evaluation system will be similar to the National Curriculum-2012. Means exam will take precedence.

The circular also said that the revised curriculum will be finalized in 2025 with the cooperation of educationists, curriculum experts, evaluation experts, experts in related subjects, related education administrators, civil society representatives and parent representatives. It is also reported that it will be fully implemented from the year 2026.

Bangladesh /KH