ICSE English syllabus includes Harry Potter, Tintin, Asterix

Lucknow: Education with fun. This is what the ICSE students will experience after in a surprising move, the Government has decided to include in their syllabus Harry Potter and Tintin as characters which students would be required to read, study and analyse, informed a media report.

According to the report, The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) has prescribed some of the popular books of the recent past, including Harry Potter, for junior and middle school students while launching a uniform syllabus for all schools to follow from the 2017-18 session.

Tintin, Amar Chitra Katha, Asterix and the American cartoonist Art Spiegelman's Holocaust saga 'Maus' will be included in the syllabus for all Classes from III to VIII. As the earlier syllabus mainly depended on Shakespeare and Victorian novels, this is being looked as a huge leap.

Feluda, Poirot, Holmes and Bilbo Baggins have also been included into the syllabus. Several children today wouldn't be familiar with PG Wodehouse but the new syllabus would provide them an insight of the iconic books.

Autobiographies, such as Diary of Anne Frank and I Am Malala, have also been introduced in the syllabus.

The report also states that Classes I and II will also have Noddy books as part of their syllabuses. They would also learn about Toyland, Big Ears, Tessy Bear and the goblins.

The new syllabus was unveiled in Lucknow on Wednesday. The report also reveals that if any schools fail to introduce the recommended books for the 2017-18 session, they would be given a year's extension for complete implementation.