CBSE tweaks Web Applications, AI and IT subjects to increase industry focus

It is not as if the entire curriculum is being restructured nor is a new subject being introduced, hence teachers are already well versed in the existing curriculum. “Only certain portions of the syllabus are being revised, for which supplementary materials are being provided,” Saha says. 

Key changes
Highlighting some of the changes, Alka Kapur, principal, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, says, “For the Web Application course in classes XI and XII, the curriculum now emphasises on project-based and application-oriented learning. Notable changes include introducing capstone projects in class XI, which were previously part of the Class XII curriculum. Additionally, students must now complete professional development courses and internships, such as IBM Skills Build Certification, boot camps, or other industry certifications. These enhancements aim to provide students with industry exposure and hands-on experience, aligning their skills with current industry standards.”

“The revisions in the IT course for class X and AI course for classes IX and XI are designed to deepen students' understanding of emerging technologies. For AI, the new curriculum includes modules on data literacy, focusing on qualitative and quantitative data, graphical data interpretation, and foundational Mathematics for AI, such as statistics and probability. Generative AI has also been introduced as a new topic,” she says, explaining the changes are focused on bridging the gap between theory and practical as per industry demands. However, getting appropriate hardware to support the newly suggested changes will be a challenge. “For AI-based activities, we need good internet connectivity in labs for all systems; supporting devices like earphones, web cameras, mics, etc, are also a must for good practical exposure in school labs,” Kapur adds.  

Elaborating on the curricular changes, Shylaja Menon, principal, The Shri Ram Universal School, Bengaluru, says, “Looking at the Web Application course for class XI and XII, modern applications like Angular and React, web security and responsive design have been added. Older topics like HTML and CSS have been removed as they are not as much in use. In the Information Technology course for class X, the emergence of cloud computing is a meaningful part of the curriculum along with data analytics and ethical hacking. A lot of the content that involves manuals, installation of older software has been removed.”

Since the rate of innovation in web development, IT, and AI is particularly high, it necessitates frequent updates to the curriculum. “Other skill subjects, while important, may not experience the same rapid pace of change. Additionally, there is a demand for technical skills in the job market, particularly in information technology and AI. Revamping these subjects ensures that students become more agile and adaptable to the demands of the modern workforce and are competitive in high-growth industries in the next decade or two,” Menon says.