Kerala’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty made it clear on Monday that the plan to trim the school syllabus by 25 per cent is about more than just making backpacks lighter— it’s a direct attempt to take the mental pressure off students. Responding to a report in Malayala Manorama, the Minister addressed worries that cutting content might lower academic standards, insisting that the government isn't just slashing lessons at random.
Instead, Sivankutty explained that the focus is on a "scientific approach" to content. This means removing repetitive sections and ensuring that what’s left is actually age-appropriate for the students. He was quick to reassure parents and teachers that this won't mean losing essential knowledge; rather, it’s about refining the "content load," even for crucial SSLC lessons, to make sure students aren't just memorising for the sake of an exam.
The government isn't making these calls in a vacuum, either. According to the Minister, they’ve been listening to feedback from the ground, with both teachers and students reporting that certain subjects have become far too heavy to handle. A committee of academic experts is currently reviewing this feedback to ensure the revision is handled properly. "There is no confusion on the part of the government in this regard," he said, adding that the curriculum committee will be finalising these changes soon.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the announcement was the introduction of "Evolving Texts." The aim is to move away from the old system of education. Under the new plan, the curriculum will be updated regularly to stay relevant. As Sivankutty put it, a child's knowledge isn't measured by the number of chapters they finish, and the state is now prioritising "quality over quantity" to ensure students actually understand what they’re learning through a more hands-on, experimental process.
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