-
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