NCERT Explains Why It Removed Periodic Table From Class 10 Books

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) decision to remove a chapter on the periodic table of elements, among other topics, from the Class 10 science textbook has received severe criticism from academicians.

The changes were announced by the NCERT last year as part of a rationalisation exercise based on expert recommendations. The new textbooks with these deletions and changes have now hit the market.

Defending its move, NCERT explained why it had dropped a few chapters from the textbooks.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teachers across the school stages were at home and managing teaching-learning using alternative modes. NCERT attempted to rationalise the contents of the textbooks in 2021 considering the following criteria:

a. Overlapping with similar content included in the other subject area in the same class.
b. Similar content included in the lower or higher class in the same subject.
c. High difficulty level
d. Content, which is easily accessible to children and does not require much intervention from the teachers and can be learned through self-learning or peer learning.
e. Content, which is not relevant in the present context or is outdated.
f. Learning outcomes already developed across the classes are taken care of in this rationalization exercise," read the thread.

"With respect to the removal of the concepts of periodic table and evolution are concerned, the same has not been removed from the school education curriculum but in fact are available in appropriate detail in classes 11 and 12," it added.

On rationalisation of the concept of evolution, it said, "As far as the rationalisation of the content of evolution is concerned, the same has been dealt with in appropriate details in classes 12 as stated above."

"A considered opinion emerged based on the feedback received from various stakeholders, including practicing teachers, that children may not have to study the same concepts at different stages and it needs to be done at the appropriate stage." Therefore the same has been rationalised at this stage, more so considering the COVID pandemic situation, it added.

"Discussion about basic concepts such as elements, symbols, formation of compounds, atoms, and molecules have been dealt with in class 9. In class 10, chemical reaction; acids, bases, and salts; metals and non-metals; carbon and its compounds have been covered."

"Students pursuing science in classes 11 and 12 will study the details of Periodic Classification of Elements (Periodic table). The content placed in the periodic table again has been made more age-appropriate, more so considering the Covid pandemic situation," it added.