Why Students are Keen on taking Science after their 10th

Mathematicians, Therapists, and renowned astronomers like Dr. Ramanujan and Aryabhatta hail from India’s motherland. Their contribution is priceless, and when we look into the present scenario, CEOs of numerous tech giants are also Indians. But many fail to realize that many Indian economists and practitioners of Law have also made it to the top. The question, therefore, is why students incline towards Science after their 10th.

The roots of this involuntary bias towards Science partially lies in the education system. That’s because students up-till their 10th standard are only made to learn Science as an individual entity. The other options (Commerce and Humanities) are taught in amalgamated forms. They get a glimpse of Commerce in their Mathematics course in the form of rigid problems on Taxation, Interest, VAT (now GST).

The scenario for Humanities is different from that of Commerce. While Commerce is sidelined because students don’t want to deal with new subjects, Humanities is yet to attain a respectable designation among the youth. There was a time when the women of our country didn’t think twice before opting for Arts (Humanities), and the males would generally incline towards Commerce. Students who had a keen interest in research were the only ones who chose for Science.

However, a drastic shift from this pattern was soon observed. In this approach, a student’s stream would be decided by the percentage they secure in their examination. A significant flaw here was that their aspirations were neglected, and many-a-times, they killed their interest themselves. Why? Because they got exceptional marks in the examination. The hierarchy was simple. Extraordinary performance would imply that you’ll take Science. Average marks would land in the zone of Commerce, and the lowest grade would leave you with the option of Humanities.

Another factor that cannot be overlooked is the overall information that students get during their educational tenure (till 10th). They are made comfortable with terms like IITs, AIIMS, JEE, and they feel that is exactly what they’re destined to pursue. Coaching centers also add their contribution to the decision of students. Many Science-related institutes have established pinnacle programs with schools. Under it, students can study from the institute’s trainers during their school hours within the school premises. So, before selecting your preferred stream, you know about:

• The national exam that you need to appear for
• The colleges and coaching institutes that you need to fight for
• The career options you have

Ironically, all of these points are check-marked under the domain of Science only. As a result, opting for Science becomes a virtual compulsion because you don’t know the corresponding data of other streams.

With the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, the scenario is bound to change. Students will now have the opportunity to study any subject of their interest irrespective of their stream. A gist of all the streams before the beginning of the 10th standard will also clear the doubts of many candidates. There’s nothing wrong with taking Science, and there are countless opportunities for skilled candidates. However, a student should have the utmost clarity of the streams so that they don’t proceed with a decision that he/she regrets later on.