ICSE introduces Harry Potter, Tintin, Asterix into English syllabus.

English classes will no more be boring. Students can now say hello to Asterix, Tintin, Harry Potter and even Amar Chitra Katha.

In what would possibly be a hugely welcoming change, children studying in schools that adhere to the ICSE board will now have Harry Potter and Tintin as characters they need to read, study and analyse. No kidding.

According to a report in The Times of India, The Council of School Certificate Examination (CISCE) has prescribed some of the most popular books of our times--Harry Potter included--for junior and middle-school students while laying down a uniform syllabus for all schools to follow from the 2017-18 session.

Not just Tintin, even popular graphic novels such as Amar Chitra Katha and Asterix and the American cartoonist Art Spiegelman's Holocaust saga 'Maus' will be introduced for all Classes from III to VIII. Considering the earlier syllabus relied heavily on Shakespeare and Victorian novels, this is no doubt a massive leap.

The syllabus change though, doesn't stop here. Kids will also read about Feluda, Poirot and Holmes and read about Bilbo Baggins in JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. While many children today are not familiar with PG Wodehouse they can now gain an insight into the iconic books.

Autobiographies, one of the most interesting ways to gain perspective into someone's inspirational life, will also be included. Think The Diary of Anne Frank and I Am Malala.

Younger children won't feel left out. The report states that Classes I and II will now have Noddy books as part of the syllabus--imagine that. With many illustrations, they can now enjoy their classes as they learn about Toyland and Big Ears and Tessy Bear and of course the goblins.

The new syllabus was introduced in Lucknow on Wednesday. However, the TOI report states that if some schools fail to introduce the recommended texts in the coming academic session, they would be granted a year's extension.