Science study

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Editorial

Sunday, 01 August 2010

Author / Source : editorial

A review of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees of different groups under the country's education boards over two decades shows that the share of science is continually shrinking. Whereas the percentage of science students in 1990 was 42.21, i t has come down to 22.32 in 2010. Similarly, at the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) level the percentage of the same group in 1990 was 28.13 but in 2010 it has come down to 18.14. The statistics speak for themselves. Where have the students gone? They are taking Business Studies in larger numbers. At the SSC level the percentage of business studies examinees has gone up from 7.30 per cent in 1998 to 34.57 per cent in 2010. Almost a similar jump of the same group has been recorded at the HSC level too. 
At a time when the need for science and technology study proves crucial, this decline is alarming. For a precise answer to why this is happening, a methodical and elaborate study conducted by competent people is essential. The statistics of the education boards have not shown the urban rural disparity. But the fact is that schools and colleges of rural areas mostly do not have competent teachers in, among others, science subjects. Students willing to pursue science studies in some schools and colleges would not be able to do so simply because those institutions do not offer teaching in such subjects. Then there is a complaint that the HSC science syllabus is complicated and contains many unnecessary topics. Moreover, 25 per cent of the marks has been kept for practical work but most schools and colleges in rural and even a few in urban areas do not either have a laboratory or required facilities.
So, these problems need to be addressed on a priority basis if we want to revive interest in science study.