Goa Board excludes portion from Class XII biology textbook

Special Correspondent

Panaji

Following the judgment of the Madras High Court in the C George Thomas versus Union of India case, dated October 10, 2023, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has excluded certain portion from the biology text book of Class XII for the academic year 2025-26.

The Madras High Court judgment pertains to a writ petition, which was more in the nature of public interest litigation, and the petitioner had argued that the approach to the subject, namely, ‘The Origin of Life’ in text books used in schools and colleges was flawed.

The Goa Board has therefore accordingly deleted some portion from the particular biology textbook such as Chapter 7 – ‘Genetics of Evolution’ and done reallotment of chapter-wise mark distribution in biology syllabus for Class XII, in units like reproduction, genetics, biology in human welfare, biotechnology and ecology.

Furthermore, henceforth the unit ‘Genetics and Evolution’ will be renamed as ‘Genetics’ in the rationalised syllabus of biology.

In addition, new marking scheme for biology practical exam has also been announced by the Goa Board.

The Goa Board authorities informed that C George Thomas had prayed before the court that ‘The Origin of Life’ subject as followed in Indian text books is vague and therefore be deleted from the syllabus, all over the country. “Accordingly, the Goa Board placed the same before its Board of Studies and its members agreed to delete the particular portion from the Class XII biology text book,” they added.