my thoughts

Education is the key to the bright future of the country and in that also school education plays an imperative role. That is the reason maximum importance is given to the school teachers and teacher`s day is celebrated in schools with a lot of enthusiasm. Though even the college and university teachers also play a very important role but remain academic centric whereas the school teachers have a significant role in the overall development of the child and by the time they reach college those areas are already developed. The role of the schools and the colleges is, no doubt very important but the environment of the family and the way parents bring up their children is also equally important. I happened to read a poem in which the poet portrays the importance of the action by which the children learn the most. The summary or the essence of the poem is that actions speak louder than words. Even if some harsh words are said to somebody but the way of expressing the same is effecti...

The last few years have witnessed introduction of many reforms in the education system of the country and this has awakened the citizens of the nation to discuss and put forward their views in public domain. The concept of CCE has been to help children develop into a complete and holistic personality including the value based growth which will help them to live in a better environment than otherwise. Another reason for introduction of CCE and school based examination was to reduce the stress level among the students.  Now after about three years of CCE being into force we need to understand whether it has started in the right direction and is giving the desired results. When discussed with the teachers, parents and children we get a mixed response.  Even among the students, there is a difference of opinion regarding the advantage they might have received appearing in school based tenth class examination than the board examination. The students who consider themselves to be ...

Last few years have seen new methods of assessment and evaluation being introduced by Central Board of Secondary Education as per the objective of National Curriculum Framework 2005. This includes the implementation of CCE and now open book system in class X examination (summative II). Over the last two to three years the focus has shifted from teaching learning process to examination and evaluation process. When we try to analyze the reason behind the apparent sudden anxiety of the authorities towards the examination pattern which has been followed by the country in the last fifty -sixty years, we realize that is not something which has come all of a sudden but there have been talks and discussions in seminar and conferences that the country needs better ways of assessment and evaluation of the learning of the children.   The educationists were concerned about the changes to be brought in our education system so that schooling particularly does not remain a stressful exercise...

The last few years have seen the growing interests of Indian psychologists and educationists to understand the learning process and the level of the Indian students in schools. About six years back a study conducted by one research organization found that most of the students did not have the age appropriate knowledge and that they were not able to answer questions which were put to them differently.   The schools selected were considered to be the top schools of the country. The children who were selected for this study were also the ones who had got good grades in their school examinations. Then what is the reason that they were not able to respond to the questions put by an external agency in a different way. Was it the fault of examination or the learning process of the children? This is what I have been stating in all my previous write ups, on the topic of reforms in school education, which are too much inclined towards examination. The most important thing which is to be ...

It is to start on a happy note that one of the premier educational bodies, Central Board of Secondary Education is planning to bring another revolutionary change in the education system of the country. The news regarding implementation of open book system in class X and class XII board examination seems to be very exciting to all of us. This system is followed in some of the western countries and also individual school boards and universities in some countries. This gives an access to the books when the students are writing their examination.    But what CBSE proposes to do is to let students know the topics and the pattern of the question papers well in advance so that they can thoroughly learn the topics.    The difference in the question paper is proposed to be in terms of the quality of the questions. CBSE thinks and many of us agree, that today’s question papers and the examination system promote rote learning and not the real creative learning by the childre...

The safety of the children in and outside the home is of real concern for all of us specially when they are    travelling from home to school and back. Not only this the traffic on roads particularly in the cities has reached a situation that if corrective and preventive measures are not taken immediately, it will prove to be extremely dangerous to all in general and the school going kids in particular.   The number of vehicles on road nearly doubles in every five years but the width of the road remains the same thereby causing bottle-necks at every short distance. To add to this sorry state of affairs, there are traffic rules which are frequently violated. In this condition, the children are the most vulnerable group whether    they are on the roads or commuting to and fro the school. The Supreme Court of India has clearly mentioned the guidelines for the safety and security of school going children particularly while they are travelling by school buses....