NCERT clarifies Class 9 Maths syllabus: No overall topics dropped, chapters redistributed

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has clarified the changes in the draft Class 9 Mathematics syllabus after concerns were raised over some topics appearing to have been removed.In a press release issued on September 25, NCERT said that no overall topics were dropped from the draft syllabus. Instead, some topics were incorporated into different chapters so that students could develop their understanding across multiple concepts.The council also said the syllabus released earlier was only a draft, prepared to seek feedback from teachers, students and other stakeholders. The draft syllabus will be finalised and released in October by NCERT and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), after considering the feedback received.The clarification comes amid discussion over changes in the draft syllabus.NCERT said that under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, school curriculum is not meant to be understood simply through a list of textbook chapters.Instead, the curriculum is organised around 'Curricular Goals, Competencies and Learning Outcomes.'Curricular Goals describe what students should broadly achieve at a particular stage. Competencies explain what learners should be able to attain at the end of that stage, while Learning Outcomes provide observable milestones that can be used for teaching, learning and assessment.NCERT said textbooks are only one of the resources used to achieve these goals.Lines and Angles, Euclidean Geometry topics were redistributedAddressing specific concerns over the Class 9 Mathematics draft syllabus, NCERT said some topics that appeared to be missing had actually been incorporated into other chapters.For example, key new ideas and applications related to Lines and Angles are already covered in the Grade 6 Ganita Prakash textbook, Chapter 2. They are also continued in Class 9 Part 2 through chapters dealing with Proportionality and Theorems.Similarly, Quadrilaterals are covered in Chapter 12.NCERT also referred to Euclidean geometry, which deals with the geometry of flat two-dimensional space and includes concepts such as polygons, circles, parallel and intersecting lines.The council said these concepts are already extensively treated in Chapters 5, 6, 9, 12 and 13 of the Grade 9 Mathematics textbook.After consultation and feedback from teachers and educators, NCERT said it was decided not to have a separate abstract axiom-theorem-proof chapter on the topic. Instead, students will encounter the concepts across different chapters and develop an understanding of how they are applied.Another change in the draft syllabus is the inclusion of a chapter on algorithms.NCERT said the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made it important for students to understand concepts such as algorithms, data structures and running time efficiency from a mathematical point of view.The council said these concepts are expected to become increasingly important in the coming years.It also pointed to the NEP's focus on developing computational thinking among students. According to NCERT, understanding the mathematical ideas behind AI is therefore important.A standalone module on AI is also being developed. However, the council said it considered it important for students to explore the mathematical concepts that support AI during their Mathematics classes.Curriculum is not just about textbook chaptersNCERT also pushed back against judging the new curriculum only by counting the number of textbook headings or chapters.The council said its new textbooks across subjects, including Mathematics and Social Science, have been developed around the Curricular Goals, Competencies and Learning Outcomes set out under NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.The aim is to help students achieve these outcomes through an integrated and meaningful learning process.NCERT said schools, teachers, school boards and other stakeholders should therefore plan classroom teaching and assessment with reference to the competencies.The council specifically said that drawing conclusions about how much of the curriculum has been covered simply by counting printed chapter headings does not reflect the intent of competency-based education.Draft syllabus will be finalised in OctoberThe NCERT clarification also makes clear that the syllabus currently being discussed is not the final version.The council said the earlier document was released as a draft to invite feedback from teachers, students and parents or educators. The suggestions received will be considered before the syllabus is finalised.The final draft is expected to be released in October by NCERT and CBSE.Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.