CHENNAI: Addressing an important issue with the Samacheer Kalvi textbooks - that of a huge book burden, the state government has announced that students will be issued only one integrated textbook including all subjects from the next year. Under this system, students of classes I-VI will have to carry only one textbook to school everyday, while class VII and VIII students will carry two textbooks.This announcement, in a Government Order dated December 12, is expected to bring cheer among students and anxious parents who have lamented the increased book burden after the Uniform School Education System (Samacheer Kalvi) was introduced this academic year. Under the Samacheer Kalvi system, though the books became more colourful and activity-based, their dimensions were standardised to A4 size and required heavier paper as more colour pictures were included. As a result, instead of opting for the usual 60 gsm-thick paper, 80 gsm-thick paper was used in the books, making schoolbags heavier.From next year, however, the bags will be considerably lighter, with the introduction of the trimester pattern and the all-subjects-in-one-textbook plan. Under the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) System to be enforced in Matriculation, Anglo-Indian, Oriental and government schools in the state, a trimester system will be followed. For every trimester (June-September, October-December and January- April), only portions taught during that period will be evaluated. For this purpose, the syllabus of every subject has been trifurcated, balancing every term with the same quantum of intense and easy chapters.Now the textbooks for all subjects will be compiled into one book for classes I-VI, and two books for classes VII and VIII. Under this system, class I students will carry only one 138 page textbook including chapters for English, Tamil, Mathematics and Environmental Science subjects. Currently, a Class I student carries four books, including 368 pages in all. A class VIII student, instead of carrying five books of 1,152 pages in all, now will only carry two of 220 pages from the next year. The new books too will be of A4 size.“This move has been decided after holding consultations with education experts in order to reduce the book burden of students,” said TS Sridhar, School Education Secretary. “The CCE system promises to not just reduce the mental stress of students, it is now also reducing their daily bag burden. One only hopes the notebooks are not too many to carry, as the system will have more activities and projects,” said Malathi, parent of a class VI student in a Matriculation school.
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