Panaji (Goa): The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has introduced two new text books and change in English Communication syllabus for Class IX and higher secondary students in the current academic year, an attempt to upgrade the education system.

To facilitate assignments and projects for the students of Class IX and Class XII, the Board has introduced a new text book ‘Goa School Atlas’ while another text book for the higher secondary vocational students titled ‘General Foundation Course’ will be available from July first week.

In another move, the GBSHSE has changed syllabus for English for Class XI vocational students from June 2017 onwards. The new textbook to be followed is now known as ‘Renaissance’ Book I.  “The Syllabus (Mid Term, First Term, Final Exam), Question Paper Pattern (Mid Term, First Term, Final Exam) and Design of Question Paper have been uploaded on the Board’s Website for perusal of the institutions and the teachers concerned,” reads a circular signed by Secretary M V Gadgil.

Certain changes in the study material, an education official told this reporter, are based on the requirement for upgrading the education system. While there was no major changes registered last year, the only key change was introducing a new concept wherein the subject Computer Science would be offered only by those students of Arts, Commerce and Science streams who offer Mathematics or Mathematics & Statistics as an optional subject. This is effective from 2016-2017 onwards for students of Class XI and from 2017-18 onwards for students of Class XII.

The HSSC results had witnessed a drop in pass percentage from 90.10 percent in 2015-2016 academic year to 88.77 percent in 2016-17. The disappointment comes after the State witnessed an impressive result in the last three academic years.

Team TNV