‘Computer science without chemistry will see few takers’

‘Computer science without chemistry will see few takers’

Chemistry Is A Must For Engineering Courses

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  23.06.2020

In 2019-20, nearly three lakh Class XI students opted for computer science group. In the coming academic year, the subject may not find much takers because it means students have to forego a core science subject – chemistry. A higher secondary certificate without chemistry will render students ineligible to opt for engineering courses. Yet, the school education department has unfurled new subject groups from 2020-21academic year, wherein students can opt for three core subject groups instead of four.

In four-subject groups, students study computer science along with mathematics, physics and chemistry if it is science group, and do computer applications in commerce group and computer technology in vocational group. According to the new scheme, students can study computer science along with maths and physics in science group.

Sources in school education department said students can opt for either four subject groups or three subject groups. But, headmasters ask why would students will go for four-subject groups, if there is an option to choose one subject less. “Among new subject groups, computer science group has very limited career options and students cannot join BE or BTech courses, where chemistry is mandatory. If students want to study computer science, they have to join four-subject groups," said K John, headmaster, Thiru Vi Ka Higher Secondary School, Shenoy Nagar.

All higher secondary schools have computer instructors and labs. The syllabus was upgraded too with Python and C++ programming language at school level.

“More than 1.75lakh students chose computer applications and 1.64lakh students chose computer science in Class XI in 2019-20. For the last five years, more than three lakh students have been joining computer science in Class XI. But, computer applications and computer technology was not even featured among three core subject groups,” a computer science teacher said. “The official justification is to reduce the stress of students. But, will anyone leave the popular core science subject to reduce the stress of students?,” he said.

The syllabus committee has also split computer science into three different subjects -- computer science, computer applications and computer technology -- and introduced them in science, commerce and vocational groups respectively.

"Science group students would learn programming language and commerce students learn only applications. It was introduced to all groups as computer knowledge was must for all. We cannot imagine a group without computer science," said V G Ramakrishnan, a retired computer science teacher.

Anna University vicechancellor M K Surappa said teaching computer science at school level will help students joining in all streams in the digital era. "It is not just engineering, even basic science and humanities are going to be digitalised. It is always good for students to get exposed to some level of computer science and applications at school level. It would help them in their career and higher studies," he said.