Essay
The
earlier system of education focused on academic excellence and
competition. The results in written
assessments determined the future of the students. One obtained the career of his choice depending
on the scores obtained in various exams.
The
system engendered a lot of frustration among many students whose career
aspirations were snuffed out by the rat race.
Quite many lives ended even before they began. Suicides were not uncommon even in
institutions of higher learning.
Educators and other guardians of the society were alarmed. They came to the conclusion that a change in
the system was called for.
Coupled
with the gloom of frustration and suicides was the awareness that arose in
psychology that IQ (intelligence quotient) was not necessarily the measure of a
person’s intelligence. Psychologists as
well as educationists came up with theories that pushed abstract intelligence out
of the limelight. Robert Sternberg (1949-
)posited the triarchic
theory of intelligence, according to which people possess 3
different types of intelligence in varying degrees and each type is important
in attaining success in different fields.
The 3 intelligences are: (1) analytical intelligence (measured by the normal IQ tests), (2) practical intelligence: the
skills needed to cope with everyday demands and to manage oneself and other
people effectively, and (3) creative
intelligence: the skills needed to deal adaptively with novel problems.
Another
psychologist Howard Gardner (1943- )
spoke about 9 intelligences. According
to Gardner’s theory of
multiple intelligences, the ability to dance, play games, understand
and relate to others, etc are all intelligences.
Educational
psychologist Benjamin Bloom (1913-1999) had already suggested that education
should take care not only of the cognitive domain (traditional education) but also the affective (emotions) as
well as the psychomotor
(practical skills needed for wielding tools, etc) domains.
Educationists
all over the world (including India) adopted/adapted these theories in
different ways in order to make learning creative as well as interesting. CCE
(Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation) became a fad in the Indian educational
system. Students were to be awarded
marks for anything they do that may reveal a spark of creativity or at least
some skill. Students suddenly started
getting a lot of marks for they knew not what.
CCE
could have been a successful venture had teachers been given the necessary
training to implement it. The fact is
that a sizeable proportion of teachers do not even know what its spirit
is. So the letter of the law is
practised and the objectives remain farfetched.
Worse,
education has become a big joke for the students. In the name of activities, they perform any
clowning and are awarded marks. In the
name of projects, they copy entire texts from the internet and attach some
pictures copied again from the internet and are awarded marks. Teachers cannot give below pass marks in any
of these. In fact, teachers are
encouraged to mark generously by the system itself.
As
a result, learning is farce rather than fun, self-destructive rather than
creative. More menacingly, the entire
value system of the students is turned topsy-turvy. They learn to manipulate the system rather
than use it creatively. Life inevitably
seeks the paths of least resistance. The
teacher becomes a kind of clown in the circus trying to maintain a sane balance
between stunt and buffoonery.
Add
to these the eradication
of punishments. It’s not just
corporal punishments that have been abolished.
Anything that a student can interpret as “intimidating” can be reported
and the teacher may be replaced with a fresh hand that the management is happy
to take on for a lesser remuneration. The
teacher can count herself fortunate if her “intimidation” does not land her
behind the bars.
Then
there are the gadgets
like the smart phones and the tablets with which students keep themselves busy
during their leisure. Real human society
is substituted with the virtual world of SMSes, chat sites and social networks.
It’s a world without real responsibilities.
The farce becomes complete.
Oxford
historian, Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, argues in his eminent book titled Civilizations that civilizations do not
grow or develop or evolve; they just change in different ways. We interpret the changes as growth or
development or evolution according to our needs or perspectives. Is the current phase of education a growth?
“We
need to feel badly about ourselves if we are going to make ourselves better,” he
says. Perhaps, it’s high time we began
to feel “badly” about the current education scenario in the country. The rising crimes among youngsters is a good
enough warning. If we still continue to
think we are “growing or developing or evolving” toward a more humane society
by mistaking pampering for affection, then the system will teach us some
lessons in its own characteristic ways.
This is high time that we should think about what we actually want from education..how we want our children to be 'educated' ....I agree with most of your points regarding eradication of punishment and using of gadgets...But I think apart from CCE ( which is at this moment popular only among schools affiliated with CBSE ) , the traditional 'exam' based system should also be encouraged...
ReplyDeleteThe whole concept envisaged by the psychologists and educationists has been washed down the drain by the way it is put into practice in our country. If not CCE, it is done in some other name in different Boards - DPEP, for example, in the Kerala Board. They make a mockery of education!
DeleteTrue that. It wasn't wrong to promote CCE but the evaluation must be strict even with this. No matter whatever be the mode of evaluation and education, it must be ensured the real goal of education it achieved.
ReplyDeleteWhen we are dealing with children some sternness and even severity is required. Children don't understand nor can they manage excess of freedom which the present system of education is offering them.
DeleteI agree most of the education that we get from school/ college these days is farce. Usually after a professional education we expect to be able to be proficient in the job sector. But we usually have zero practical experience and the thousand theories that we had memorized becomes useless :(
ReplyDeleteThis is another aspect, you're speaking of Preethi, but a valid one too.
DeleteIt is how our system has been and it has only worsened with parents allowing kids to carry gadgets and generally evoke a sense of they can get anything they want... as far as CCE goes, the system lacks the ability to grant training to teachers, teachers are not motivated enough and the list goes on ending it up into a viscous circle.. in addition children today have a much lower EQ making the situation even more worse. Questions are many, answers very few.
ReplyDeleteYes, Seeta, it's a rather complex situation; I've analysed it from selected perspectives which I thought were important.
Delete"Life inevitably seeks the paths of least resistance. The teacher becomes a kind of clown in the circus trying to maintain a sane balance between stunt and buffoonery." Nothing can explain better my state of mind regarding Our Education system. No to punishment is passe` now (from 5-6 years) govt. had passed the 1.) 'No Fail Policy'' that is the teacher can NOT FAIL any child irrespective of his performance!
ReplyDelete2.) If an illetrate child seeks new admission and is for ex.10 years of age , then he will be given admission according to his age and the teacher had to work on him to bring him to the equal level of his fellow classmates !! So, the magician teacher will make him learn A,B,C,D to LCM and trigonometry within 8-9 months and by the final exams he OUGHT to pass the exams OR you can't fail him.SEE. And not to discuss the teaching already enrolled students are receiving ... Trash.
Self introspection and setting of priorities perhaps can save us .
As a teacher I can understand your frustration and agony, Kokila. I too experience similar problems. We need systemic changes. Accountability cannot be teacher's sole responsibility; the students, parents, policy makers and the govt too, all should be accountable.
DeleteStrongly disagree.. neither generous marking nor gadgets in school is an issue actually... I think eradication of punishment is "THE" best step that we have taken.. creativity has nothing do with marking or punishment has everything to do with "enablers" (like gadgets). The issue is the way we see all these things... About a month back one of my colleague was called by his son's school teacher for an absurd frivolous reason like "he is generally untidy"... That's funny. Well! coming back to my view, i believe school is a playground where only minimum of minimum regulation should be practiced... let them do whatever they want to do... they will become far better youngsters.
ReplyDeleteYou needn't worry at all, Sachin. Because the kind of school you want for children is already there, thanks to the prevailing system. :)
DeleteJust an anecdote to convey what I'm trying to convey: An English teacher wished to teach some manners to one of her students. She told him how to ask permission politely instead of being as rude as he usually was. The boy said, "Hold on, ma'am; I'm just coming from the loo."
:) ... loved your anecdote...
DeleteThe Harsh Reality of today's education. I remember once My Father asked "don't you use pen and copies for study, I see you with your Laptop every time?" Shamelessly I answered "No Papa now laptop has everything, books, copies and days are gone of writing and now typing is most preferred".
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of difference between you and the school students, Ranesh. First of all, you are in college and mature enough to make your decisions. School students are not mature. There may be exceptions - I remember you were a mature student with clear goals and objectives when you were in school. Tell me, how many of your companions possessed that maturity?
DeleteAgree with you completely. As a teacher, I can share my experience and frustration. These days, no one is interested in teaching, rather interested in cheating. With the deteriorating condition of our family values and teaching methodologies, I always fear that future of our children will be very tough.
ReplyDeleteTeaching won't be a profession by choice any more.
DeleteTotally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you here after a pretty long while, Pankti. I must confess I missed you.
DeleteHi, Tomichan Matheikal
ReplyDeleteThat's very informative post which is very helpful for me
Keep Sharing post on Education :)
Thanks
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