The state education department has decided to trim the school syllabus for all classes by 40 per cent amid continued closure of educational institutions across Jharkhand in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) will start sending out the updated syllabus to schools in all the districts from Monday and also upload it on its online education delivery interfaces for the benefit of students.

JEPC project director Shailesh Chourasiya said, “The state government has finally cleared our draft proposal to slash syllabus for current fiscal in the wake of extended closure of schools due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown. From Monday, we shall start sending details of the new syllabus to everyone across the state.”

He said the syllabus had been trimmed 35 per cent to 40 per cent in all subjects. “The slash is for all classes in state board affiliated schools starting from class 1. The next year’s matric and intermediate and all other exams held by Jharkhand Academic Council will now be held on the revised syllabus. Model questions too will be based on the new syllabus,” he said.

In another development, the state government has decided to provide 20 grace marks for students who failed to clear the JAC-conducted class 8 exams this year as there would be no retest.

As many as 5,3,862 students appeared in the exam this year which was held from January 24. Exams were held for 250 marks of which 33 per cent (83) is fixed as minimum pass marks. Out of total examinees, 4,61,538 were declared passed when JAC published the results in June.

A JAC official said, “We are in the process of re-evaluating results after the government directed to give 20 grace marks for those who failed in the exams. The final tally is expected to be out in another two weeks.”