VIJAYAWADA: With a view to providing basic knowledge in computer languages, the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) is planning to introduce a subject in computer science for both first and second year Intermediate students. Right from the basics of computers to the languages like C, C++ would be taught to students.
However, the subject would not form part of the main curriculum. Currently, Intermediate students have two languages, three core subjects and one mandatory subject for all streams.
The marks secured by students in all these subjects are taken into account to arrive at the final score.
The new computer subject being proposed to be introduced would not impact the total marks of Intermediate students as they would not be used to compute the overall score, according to officials of the Board.
Speaking to TNIE, B Udayalakshmi, Commissioner of BIE, said, “currently, we are offering Computer Science along with English as a vocational course. It would be useful if we can make it available to students of all the streams. At the same time we don’t want to add any burden to students by making it a part of the main curriculum.”
Meanwhile, Higher Education Department officials said that with many students opting for engineering and medical courses after completing Intermediate, knowledge of computers would give them an added advantage.
Since students would gain knowledge of computer languages like C and C++ in Inter itself, these could be replaced with other topics in under graduation courses, they said. Presently, there is no pattern in imparting computer knowledge to students.
At school level they are taught some basic lessons and the subject is dropped at Intermediate level. The proposal which will ensure continuity in imparting computer skills to students has found favour with educationalists.
Teachers Constituency MLC V Balasubramanyam said, “Nowadays, everything is revolving around computers and there should be continuity in learning. At school level the children are taught computer science subject, but it’s missing at the Intermediate level. Again it becomes a key subject in some under graduation courses. In fact it can even be included in the main curriculum instead of adopting as an optional subject like Sanskrit.”
Also, the BIE plans to have digital classrooms in all government colleges. Currently, only a few colleges have digital classrooms. The BIE is most likely to start setting up of new digital classrooms this academic year itself.