The CBSE will introduce two levels of science and social science in Classes IX and X, the board chairman told principals at a national conference on Friday.
The change will be introduced from 2026-27, he said.
“We have already been offering mathematics at two levels in Class IX. But NEP (National Education Policy) says that students must have flexibility, or rather the board should offer assessments and subjects at two levels, starting in IX, in maths, science and social science. So starting 2026-27, the board... will enable schools to offer all these three subjects at two levels which in all likelihood would be called standard and advanced,” said Rahul Singh, chairman, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Children can take subjects at the levels they are more comfortable with. “Not every child would be proficient in math, science or social science. So they can choose the level at which they want to learn that subject at the secondary level,” Singh said on the sidelines of the conference.
He was addressing 1,200-odd principals from across the country and some from abroad at the 30th National Annual Conference of Sahodaya School Complexes 2024, organised by the CBSE Sahodaya School Complex (an association of CBSE schools), Kolkata Chapter, at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.
“The curriculum committee of the CBSE approved this (two levels). The NEP has recommended this to foster inclusivity in classrooms and to promote learning,” Singh said.
The board will come up with the details by “April or so”, he told the principals.
“The objective of raising it in today’s meeting is that school principals should think about it and I would like to invite suggestions about the way to go about it,” he said.
The difference between the two levels could be in the types of questions set for the groups or in the syllabus they are offered. It could also be a combination of the two, the chief said.
“This has to come with flexibility, which is going to be a feature of the education system going forward — where a child can switch to another level, higher or lower. This should be the prerequisite for taking those subjects in senior secondary classes,” said Singh.
Around 30,000 schools in the country offer the CBSE curriculum.
Principals said two levels would give students more flexibility to choose according to their aptitude.
“If there are two kinds of papers or levels, students can choose the one they are more comfortable with rather than being forced to do all subjects at the same level,” said Loveleen Saigal, joint treasurer of Kolkata Sahodaya and principal of Birla High School for Boys.
The Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) offers various levels of English, math and sciences in Classes IX and X.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations had earlier this year announced its plan to offer at least two levels of English and math in ISC (Classes XI and XII) so students can opt for a less rigorous course if they want to.
The state higher secondary council will introduce three levels of math at the plus-II level in the next academic session. Humanities students will have a simplified math, commerce students will study math at a higher level. Science students will learn at an even more advanced level.
