Participating in the metamorphosis of education
A teacher is seen
as an awakener in the society, but to change the education system, parents,
students need to change their outlook, attitude, notions of learning, writes
Shayama Chona
India has been independent for more than seven
decades, while everything is changing for the better, but our education system
needs a metamorphosis. On one hand, we have advanced, global schools with
5-star infrastructure, and just across these luxurious schools, we have schools
where students do not even have clean drinking water or toilets with latches.
WHAT IS AILING EDUCATION SYSTEM
We are plagued with dropouts as the teachers are
unable to ignite love of learning in their minds. Our examination system is
still based on rote learning, in an age when it should be about testing the
comprehension, application and analytical skills of the students. Thus, we have
students who end up scoring 99.9% marks while thousands fail to get passing
marks. All this is due to the lack of differentiated curriculum and question
papers where objective questions are given to standardise the corrections. The
quality of teachers is also put to the test and sometimes bright students score
less than average ones. Unfortunately, the RTE is not fully implemented,
reservations for EWS has not found its feet because of the attitude of the
leaders, faculty, parents as well as students. Many times, it seems that
societal hierarchy has pervaded the classrooms in a country where RTE is a fundamental
right for all.
HOW SCHOOLING HAS CHANGED
Today, if you ask a slum dweller what he would like
in a school, the immediate reply would be –“please teach my child English and
make him sit on a chair.” This outlook has far too many repercussions. Colonialism
has somehow led to a negative attitude towards working with hands. The moral
science classes, which were a part of the school curriculum, are now a laughing
matter. Skill-based education has only seen a dim light because we have no
respect for working with hands. Despite government’s push , skills-based
education is last priority and there is a lack of respect for skilled people.
By understanding the importance of skill-based education, we can be a major
contributor to global skilled workforce. Though we are projected to provide one
out of five software engineers in the world, certain demographers believe that
India is home to the biggest number of illiterates.
CHANGING ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS
There is no child-centric or differentiated learning
in the classroom. Dwelling further into the classroom situation, another
noticeable change is in the attitude of students towards their teachers. Around
50-55 years ago, teachers were respected by both parents and students, and the
fraternity held a pivotal position in society but today there is little respect
for them in their eyes. While the uniforms of the students are getting stylish,
teachers are becoming more fashionable, discipline seems to be disappearing.
Teaching has become the last choice as a profession. If our education system
could lead to effective learning, then every qualified Indian would make our
country proud . What we need are dedicated teachers.
(The author has been a teacher for more than five
decades; she is founder-president of Tamana Association and former principal of
DPS, RK Puram, New Delhi
TOI 3SEP18
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