No exam fear till 8th Std
Education is one of the primary needs and field which needs to be looked into in our country right now. But I wonder if it does feature in the top 5 priorities or even top 10 priorities of the decision makers here. About 7 months back the then Education Minister for Maharashtra - Mr. Balasaheb Thorat announced that no child will be failed till 8th std. Only grades will be given and they will be promoted to the next level. The decision, it seems was taken to reduce the percentage of children from dropping out of school and to increase the percentage of literacy.
Now I wonder if actual thought was put into taking this decision. Whether anyone actually thought of the repercussions of such a decision. This is not helping matters - it might reduce the number of drop-outs but what is actually happening is it is diluting the quality of education. One does not need rocket science to know the ill-effects this is going to have on our over-all education system. Have these decision makers thought what these promoted kids are going to do once they reach the 9th Std?
I remember when I was in the 9th Std, it was tough! Even when one has been a good student it is difficult to cope with the studies in the higher sections. Did these people forget the pressure the kids are under when they have to clear the board exams? The pressure to get into good colleges and competitive fields? When one is not encouraged to learn the basics how can they be expected to excel later? It is so clear that you are building a weak foundation - not just for the lives of these kids but for the country. Do these ministers fail to understand the importance of a strong and stable foundation? I wonder on what grounds they have come up with such a decision which is going to affects thousands of students all over the state.
I was talking to a teacher who teaches in a secondary school in a village. She and her colleagues are at wits end. They mentioned that now the kids are aware that they cannot be failed, so they are never afraid of the exams. No fear! They come and write only their roll numbers and leave. They submit a blank paper! Can you imagine the cheek of the students. Earlier they used to at-least attempt to write something that they knew, now they know better. However, they fail to understand that once they reach 9th Std, they are going to lose. This is be like fighting a lost battle. In cities, parents make their kids study and hence this is not a serious issue, but in villages parents are not even aware which class their kids is studying in. They don't expect their kids to study at home. Such is the condition of primary education in our state.
I am at wits end thinking about this. I hope and pray that no other State thinks of implementing this silly rule. And also that better sense prevails and the current Education Minister dissolves this one from this state. Any suggestions of deal with kids with such a mind-set are most welcome.
- Mayura
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Typical knee-jerk reaction to an actual problem. The problem this was meant to resolve was one of excessive pressure of exams on younger kids, especially the stigma of being a 'repeater'. This would have been a good move if it was coupled with other means of providing incentives to students for studying hard. If grades are used, is special effort being made to target students with lower grades? Are they being made to sit for extra classes after school? As you rightly pointed out, the problem of peer/parental pressure is almost non-existent in rural areas, and hence this 'solution' is causing more harm than good. I feel the key is to target lower-graded students for special attention.
ReplyDeleteThats the problem the teachers are facing. How much are they going to complete in 1 period of 35 mins. And they have to maange over 70 students per class. They dont have enough time in their hands. What are they going to do if the students lack the will to study? And one of the major problems is the way these rural kids are (not all of them) but they are not like the city kids in terms of wanting to learn.
ReplyDeleteI would like to present a more positive picture here...
ReplyDeleteUntil I worked with some of the govt officials and understood the actual problems and the volume they are dealing with...I had similar opinions...
1) School drop out is bigger issue than the quality of education in India, at this point of time. I don't say quality is not important. But if we were in their shoes and had to choose between the two options..I am sure all of us would have taken the same action.
2) Regd the efforts taken to work with the children with lower grades..
If you look at the policies and schemes which are designed and deployed you would not ask this question..the problem in at the ground level implementation...which is all together a different issue..(which we won't talk here)
For each student who is should be failed (but sent to next class) the teachers are suppose to prepare a bridge programme (classes) - to bring the child to the correct level...templates..guidelines..methods...everything is there in place...the only challenge is correct implementation..(as mentioned)
3) The idea behind the policy is not to - pass children - the idea is to encourage them to continue learning..
If you know...in the prev scenario where children had to clear exams..school teachers used to tell them answers to ensure min result of their school...now at least children would write only what they know.. :o)
The list is endless...
And it might be true that education bodies (I prefer not to call them govt.) are doing their best...to define the policies...and to implement them...but considering the volume and complexity of the education system in India..it will certainly take few more years..
Let's be part of the good work...and support them...
Regd the Rural and City kids..
ReplyDeleteBoth have different challenges..
Rural kids..I would say more eager to learn..but they don't have the infrastructure and exposure..
In city, kids have easy access to schools...but also have exposure to many other things..which increases the probability of dropping out of school..
I would rather say..rural kids are more eager to learn..(if we compare rural kids and kids from low economy zones)..
thanx fr givin me good writeup fr my debate topic!
ReplyDeletethanks alot to give me good points for my debate....:)...
ReplyDelete