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TN Govt schools to have new computer syllabus

Raja Simhan T.E.

CHENNAI, March 7

THE Tamil Nadu has decided to change the computer education syllabus of 11th and 12th standards in the Government schools from the ensuing academic year. The decision was taken at the recent meeting of the State IT Task Force.

The State Government introduced computer education in higher secondary schools from last academic year. However, it was found by the task force, headed by Dr. M. Anandakrishnan, former Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, that the syllabus did not meet the present requirements of IT.

This year a few changes would be incorporated in the 11th standard syllabus, while for the 12th standard, the changes would be included next year, says a recent order issued by Mr. M.A. Gowrishankar, State Education Secretary.

The curriculum now contains only a few basics of computers, while the new syllabus will have contents, comprising the latest changes taking place in IT education. A significant inclusion would be the introduction of Internet education in the syllabus, sa ys the GO.

As per the revised syllabus, from 2000-01, the module for 9th and 10th standards will be: introduction to computers, basic DOS commands, introduction to Windows, word processing and spreadsheet, database, communication with Internet and BASIC with graphi cs.

For the 11 and 12th standards, for the next two years, the revised syllabus will be: introduction to computers and number systems, introduction to Windows, communication and Internet, introduction to programming, and programming in `C' language.

Taking into consideration the rapidly growing Web medium, the syllabus will have a module on HTML (hyper text markup language) and introduction to Web designs for the 11th and 12th standards, the GO says.

Meanwhile, in the second phase of implementing IT education in higher secondary schools, the Government plans to introduce computer education in over 500 schools, which has the requisite student strength.

In the first phase, the Government introduced computer education in about 1,200 higher secondary schools at a cost of around Rs. 200 crores.

The second phase of the project is likely to cost around Rs. 100 crores. Once completed, almost all the schools in the State, having the required student strength, would impart computer education to the students.