Justified and judicious use of rights for development

Our country is going through many reforms, be it the economic, social or education sector. It has been discussed earlier also and the debate is still going on as far as the educational reforms are concerned. The introduction of CCE by the Central Board of Secondary Education and the introduction of RTE by the central government are two important and major steps taken by the government. Government is making efforts on its part to make all stake holders aware of the advantage to the larger section of the society. Let us first focus on the issue which has been taken up by CBSE schools only. CCE has a holistic approach for the development of the child`s personality. Proper implementation of the same can bring out the best in a child. But there are a few problems which are faced by the people whether they are the teachers, students or the parents. The first is that not all people are aware of the real meaning and the process of the newly introduced evaluation system. This is because it was introduced at a fast pace without giving proper time to all the stake holders to understand it well. Though there have been efforts in that direction but the reality is that even after being in existence, there are many parents who do not know about the same. The second issue is the lack of  resources in many schools. When I write resources, it is both human resource and the material resource in the form of infrastructure. We know that CCE gives a lot of importance on record keeping. The activity and the project or anything else used for the evaluation would have to be produced for the sake of transparency. The parents have even asked for the record of the oral test taken by the teacher in the beginning of the session. Though it is good for the children but the challenge is the strength of the students in the class. This would be very good and comparatively easy for the teachers if the number of students in the class are limited (ideal number would be twenty to twenty five and not more than that). The third important requirement is of the textual material and the support material for the children and the teachers because the books available in the market are not exhaustive enough to make a perfect learning. The teachers and the children do need some proper material to comprehend the system well. These things should be taken care of on priority. Otherwise people have a feeling that CCE has made children and the teachers little indifferent towards proper learning.

The other reform has been a boon for all the children who were deprived of education because of the social or economic reason. Now all children from the age of six years to fourteen years have a right to free and compulsory education. By the year 2013 all schools including the government schools, will have to create minimum facilities and the infrastructure so that the aims and the objectives of the act could be realized in the real sense. The act has provisions to streamline the school education and make it more student friendly. The act advocates the involvement of the parents by giving them the responsibility in the school management committees. The qualification of the teachers has been specifically defined and they will have to adhere to it  by the year 2015.But what has been observed in the last two years is that maximum focus has been on the admission of the weaker group children in private schools. Even the officials are also very keen and excited for the same and their enthusiasm makes us feel happy. But the same kind of enthusiasm and excitement is not there when it comes to thinking about the government schools. The real objectives of the act cannot be achieved unless the whole act is taken as a unit. The act does not advocate about the right to free and compulsory education of the children from weaker section but for all the children irrespective of the family or social background. I have been wondering and sharing the same with everyone that it is good that twenty five percent children from disadvantaged group are given the opportunity to study with other group of the children and it would really be beneficial for both in the long run despite there being few problems of adjustment initially. But my worry is that a school cannot admit more than a particular number in the class so these twenty five percent children would be accommodated at the cost of other twenty five percent. Now where will these children ( who are deprived of admission) go? It has happened as if you have taken the share of one child and given to the other one. When all children have the right to free education then why the children from so called sound family background be deprived of good education. The government would do the justice to all children by increasing the number of good schools and also improving the quality of existing schools. The teachers of the government schools will have to be left free of any other job but teaching in the schools. Proper scientific and objective monitoring of the schools should be undertaken and that should not be left to the desire and wishes of individuals made responsible for seeing the proper implementation of the act. I think it would be good idea if some qualified NGOs are involved in this field to monitor the implementation of the act.CCE and RTE can change the whole education scenario for the benefit of the children and all should make their efforts to see that these reforms succeed.

I would end the article by sharing something which should be taken by all seriously that in any reform or act, the interest of all concerned should be given due importance. Here I would like to talk specifically for the teachers. All know it well that corporal punishment to the children is prohibited in the schools. Most of the teachers do follow the same but sometimes some teachers do get indulged in something which is not acceptable.  Somebody shared with me the following incident. A child had slapped a teacher in the class and then he complained to the authorities that the teacher was disturbing him. When the case was heard the child told in confidence that the teacher was asking him to study and he never wanted to do that and that was the reason for his act. Then he brought into light a startling fact, that our educational board and the government is really so kind because they are absolutely child friendly, all laws and acts say that teachers cannot give corporal punishment but tell me where it is mention that a child cannot slap or misbehave with the teacher.The society can not prosper and progress unless there is a justified use of liberty and rights. If this is not done then a mayhem might be created and situation may go beyond control. With this I am rest my views  for your thoughts and feedback.