Study Harry Potter, Tintin, Amar Chitra Katha and more in ICSE’s new syllabus

Remember when one had to hide comics and novels from parents and teachers because they were supposed to be studying? Well, a new era heralds in which you may now actually study your favourite comics.

In a bid to add more contemporary literature to school syllabi, the Council of Indian School Certificate Examination -- which conducts the ICSE and ISC board examinations -- is introducing popular titles from the next academic year.

From the popular Harry Potter series and Amar Chitra Katha to ‘The Hobbit’ and the adventures of Tintin, along with the inspiring biographies of APJ Abdul Kalam, Anne Frank and Malala Yousafzai — all of these are set to be part of the curriculum. With these, the upcoming 2017-18 academic session will also bring in uniform syllabus for all primary and junior schools.

The new curriculum was released in Lucknow at the 59th annual conference of the Association of Schools for the Indian School Certificate (ISC) at City Montessori School, Kanpur Road, which began on November 23 and will conclude on Friday.

“To prepare the future generation of learners to meet the challenges of an ever advancing knowledge-based society and a dynamically changing environment, it is imperative that children are equipped with a repertoire of skills and a positive attitude...,” said Gerry Arathoon, the council’s chief.

“The curriculum caters to a varied and diverse range of individual differences, intelligences and abilities and provides a plethora of opportunities to enjoy the learning experience through integration of generic skills, values and attitude in key learning areas,” he added.

Books and characters like Noddy are also being introduced for pre-primary classes. Feluda, Poirot and Holmes, apart from popular graphic novels and American cartoonist Art Spiegelman’s Holocaust saga ‘Maus’ are among the other interesting additions to the curriculum.

In a media address a day before the conference, Arathoon said modifications were also being introduced in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics for the ISC 2018 examinations. The syllabus, he said, had been designed keeping in mind engineering and medical examinations across the country.

Mass media and communication are also being introduced as elective subjects for ICSE and ISC students, he said.