Shortcomings of Computer Science (HPBOSE) Syllabus

Last time I discussed the objectives of Computer Science CBSE V/S HPBOSE, this time I am going to raise some questions based on the content of syllabus of Computer Science offered in Himachal Pradesh.

First of all, remember that syllabus of Informatics Practices offered by CBSE was being followed in Himachal till 2015-16 with the same name. In 2015 the syllabus was, so called, updated and the name of the subject changed from Informatics Practices to Computer Science with following syllabus contains:

1. Digital Network Essentials
2. Desktop Publishing (Pagemaker)
3. Digital Image Editing (Photoshop)
4. HTML Fundamentals
5. RDBMS and MySQL
6. Multimedia Applications (stress on audio mixing and Windows Movie Maker)
7. Network Operating System
8. Network Operating System Administration (Linux)
9. Desktop Publishing (Coral Draw)
10. Advanced Web Publishing (JavaScript)
11. Elementary Server Side Scripting through PHP
12. PL/SQL

Prerequisite

Whenever anyone wants to study something new there is always some prerequisite. Something that is expected to know before one opt for a specific subject or course like CBSE clearly mentions “No major prerequisites are required for this course other than basic Mathematical skills. However, it will be helpful if the student has a basic knowledge of Computer Applications.” in Computer Science and “Since a lot of students join CBSE schools from schools run by a state board, we are not assuming any pre-requisites for this course other than basic mathematical skills. However, it will be helpful if the student has a basic knowledge of Computer Applications 1 and 2.” in Informatics Practices.

After going through the contents of syllabus of Computer Science HPBOSE, I am unable to understand, what prerequisite is asumed, because nothing is specifically mentioned anywhere. Although computer science is being taught in class 9^th and 10^th, where fundamentals of computer science is taught, still there are many students who want to opt for this subject after 10^th. The bad news for them is that they will not be taught about basics of computer system, and they have to start with the ‘Essentials of Digital Network’. The first thing students learn is “A computer network is a interconnection of geographically distributed multiple computers in such a way that meaningful transmission and exchange of information become possible among them”, without knowing, what computer is?

I firmly believe that understanding the concept of software and hardware, files and folder, operating system is very important and topics related to these must have been there in the syllabus.

DTP

Contents related to Desk Top Publishing (DTP) is the second element in the syllabus. DTP is the specialized application of Computers in print industry, it requires special kind of skills which includes formatting, layout designing, graphical designing and much more.

As already mentioned above, asuming that student does not have any background of computer, he needs to understand the basics of word processing and content formatting before jumping over to page layout designing. In my opinion working with DTP require atleast 3 months (minimum 5 Days a week and 2 hours a day) of training with 5 % theory and 95 % hands on experience. (12 hours is allocated for theory and 18 hours for practical, I do not know how to justify it.)

For DTP Software like Pagemaker, Photoshop and CorelDraw is included (Coreldraw in 10+2 and other in 10 +1). Pagemaker is an outdated software by Adobe Inc and has been replaced by Adobe Indesign long ago. Please be informed that graphics is an essential component of DTP and we need additional tools like photoshop or coreldraw for graphic designing as it is not supported by pagemaker. Offcourse Photoshop is also there, but one must know that photoshop is exclusively Image editing software and like Pagemaker require 95 % hands of practice to use it. CorelDraw is a Graphical editing tool that is used for DTP a well as drawing complex images. Coreldraw can do all, that can be done with Pagemaker. Now what is the purpose of having two swords here...

Web Programming

Moving on to next element of the syllabus, i.e. HTML. Student has yet to be formally introduced to internet, but we are training them to develop for Internet, that too, those concept which is already out of date (like use of many HTML Tags and attributes have been depricated, and no more used). May be the Board want to teach the basics (which have been replaced by new concepts) of html.

Oh wait! I forgot, it is there because Javascript, CSS and PHP is there in next class (10+2). Javascript itself is a complete programming language. I remember, I took 3 months full time course in Javascript to learn it. Similar is the case with CSS. Regarding PHP, I dont have much to say except that CBSE was offering a complete subject named “Multimedia and Web Technology” (discontinued from 2018) based on PHP. Maybe the students in Himachal have better aptitute then from the students of all India. Otherwise what could be the logical reason to teach some thing in just one chapter in one state which is spread over whole curricullum in whole country.

Database

Undoubtfully, database is the most important application of computer. I can not imagine Computer

Science without database, and it must be taught. Students needs to understand database, due to its importance, database is also taught to commerce students in accountancy.

Database Begins with basics of DBMS and followed by SQL. SQL can not be taught without any DBMS tool hence there is RDBMS concepts with MySQL but to my surprise, the syllabus contains Introduction to PL/SQL without any Introduction to Oracle. I must mention here that MySQL and Oracle are two different DBMS software, something like two languages say Punjabi and Marathi. Story of SQL in MySQL and PL/SQL In Oracle is something like Teaching alphabets and sentences in of Punjabi and practicing paragraph writing in Marathi.

Operating System

There is no specific Operating System mentioned in the syllabus. Most of contents of Syllabus compulsarily needs Microsoft Windows because, software like PageMaker, Photoshop, Coreldraw, Oracle etc run only on Microsoft Windows. And there are some softwares that can run on both Windows and Linux like MySQL, JavaScript, PHP. Thank God there is nothing that runs exclusively on Linux. But what about Linux itself, the first chapter of Class 10+2 is Network Operatign System, where students are expected to work on linux.

One of the difficult decision that has to be taken by the teachers in schools in Himachal Pradesh is which operating system should be installed in the computer labs.

Conclusion

Talking about multimedia I do not know where are the students going to use sound mixing and Movie maker. May be once they join film industry or manage DJ’s in local functions. Photoshop, its a good Option for students seeking career as a Marriage photographer. But what the student will do with MySQL and PL/SQL in this case.

I am also unable to understand why MySQL in one class and PL/SQL (which run on Oracle) on another class. It seems that the committee who designed this syllabus wants students to be extra talented to handle all kinds of database software. Or Don’t know the difference between MySQL and Oracle. Similar is the case with Operating System, Do we need to work on Windows or Linux, its not very clear.

Syllabus of Class XII begins with Linux (Network Operating System) but software like photoshop, pagemaker, Coreldraw, moviemaker, Oracle does not work on linux out of the box.

Now coming to the advance topics, i.e. HTML, JavaScript, PHP. One can easily do complex programming without understanding the need of programming and tools used, like flowcharts etc.