Pages

Ramblings of a citizen and experiences of an entreuprener

This is about my way of life. It has two parts, one is related to the world around me and the other part is my experiences as an entrepreneur. Check out our website www.shaktiindia.com

Friday, June 24, 2016

NOT JUST INTROSPECTION, ACTION REQUIRED

  • This was written in response to a comment by an educationist.
I agree our education system needs some serious work. I disagree that the no fail policy under RTE is suspect. It is a good system badly implemented. The “one size fits all” policy is the culprit. So allowing a student to drop an uncomfortable subject will not hamper the students future growth. The reason kids are not interested is because they have no liking for what is being taught. Why are right brain subjects marginalised in this day and age.

The only reason we have Apple and it famous “I” products is because Jobs took a course in calligraphy, the rest is history. Mr. Newman, the former Principal, famously said that he has no interest in maths and only uses it to ensure that he gets the correct change back after he has paid for his goods. So learning compound interest, constructions in geometry etc were water on a ducks back.

The Goa Board has addressed this issue by allowing students to take alternative subjects if the student cannot cope with a regular subject. A path breaking initiative. This is really the basis of the National Open School system, where they offer both right brain and left brain subjects. How many Principals are willing to adopt this system which allows for tailoring of the course to fit the child.? How many are aware it exists.? Only one school, Regina Mundi has actually implemented it. So far, three students have been allowed to drop an uninteresting subject and take another. The drawback is lack of study and testing centers approved by the Goa Board. The reason for Principals or Head masters shying away from tailoring is the fact that the school has to many administrative jobs, bal rath, midday meal, election duty and the like. This surely takes away the academic focus. Why not sub contract these jobs to an outside agency. Each school complex can be managed by one set in a centralised manner which is not impossible with mobiles, internet and computers.

Once the children begin to enjoy school they will stop misbehaving and labeling of “useless or duffer” will stop and along with it the rebelling. I recall when there was a “fail policy” coming to a new class and being joined by a few kids who had failed once or twice before and actually had no hope of ever clearing. It was a matter of time before they dropped out either because they began bullying and were rusticated or because they just grew old.

Under RTE, rustication is not an option and it is frowned on by all. When it was available did it stop misbehaviour. We have laws, jails and courts do we have less crime. Bad behaviour is a symptom and not the cause. The cause is clearly wrong fit or choice of subjects offered. So we need rules and calendars just as we cannot do away with laws because there is crime.

What we as a society should be focused on is ensuring that the child is sufficiently trained to face life. Not all want or can become Doctors and Engineers. So if a child cannot or does not want say maths or language, so be it. Let him choose something else. Without maths he cannot choose engineering later, but surely such a student is sure he does not want that career choice, he may just want to become a good Principal, let him.


The Government needs to support the Board in implementing its decision to “tailor” courses as per the students likes and dislikes, with options for courses in lieu of those on standard menu. Rather than duplicate effort, the Goa Government can allow students to pick subjects from the Open School Menu. Once this is done, drop outs will reduce and smiles will be back.

No comments:

Post a Comment