Editorial

Long time back, there was a trend in school education. To raise the level of standard in high schools, the set theory, calculus, PERT, optimization etc. were introduced right in the 8th standard classes. Later, they were shifted to higher classes.

By comparison with other developed countries, our +2 education is as good as or even better than that in many countries. However, we have to give more importance for clear concepts. This is what is being wanted now by CBSE and IIT's.

Yet, when we compare the eleventh and twelfth chemistry text books with the twelfth physics text, there is a glaring difference between the two. While Bohr Atom Model is treated in the twelfth class in physics, right in the eleventh class, quantum mechanical model, hybridization and chemical bonding are studied in chemistry. When one talks of atomic wave functions, atomic and molecular orbitals and probability densities, there is a strong probability that the students repeat these without understanding them.

During this galloping progress, some vital points are being missed. There is a difference between Planck's law of quantization, Einstein's quantum theory and Bohr's quantization.

The difference in the two levels of physics and chemistry has to be studied in the context of the new emphasis on concepts. Perhaps differentiating in the text-book, the portions useful as information and the part which is compulsory for examinations could be useful.

With the change in the emphasis on concepts, more than bare calculations, not only for CBSE but also IIT's, a new look at the teaching methods may be needed. Teachers alone can cause chain reactions.