Students, especially those studying in state-run schools are in for a totally new classroom experience. Learning will not only be more enjoyable, but the standards of teaching as well as learning are poised for a massive leap. Mou Chakraborty takes us through the paces of the new system.
From the new academic session, learning will become continuous and comprehensive in schools under the Madhyamik board. While schools will be bidding goodbye to the dreaded cane, and instead usher in activity guidelines, many others would be embracing newer and more effective technologies.
Though many schools would be undergoing changes, the schools under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, will see the biggest changes. Bengali-medium schools would finally, like their English-medium counterparts, have Continuous Comprehensive Education (CCE) from classes V to X. Except for class X, students of all other classes would have to take 8 unit tests besides, the annual examination. The unit tests would be held all through the year and would carry 15 marks and 10 marks in alternative tests.
The board will also introduce the 7-point grading system in schools for students from class VI to IX. Subsequently, students will get their marks along with grades. Grades will be introduced for the Madhyamik exams from 2009. There will only be 4 unit tests, carrying 5 marks each for class X students.
Bengali-medium schools would also get a taste of things once considered to the reserve of swank English-medium schools. There would be at least 2 parent-teacher meetings, conducted by the headmaster in the presence of all teachers. This would ensure more accountability from both parents and teachers.
And this is only part of the story. The syllabus has been restructured, teaching and evaluating methods changed. From now on, questions would be based on: learning, skill, knowledge and application. The syllabus would be broken into manageable units that would have to be finished within a stipulated period of time.
Promotion criteria have been relaxed slightly. Henceforth, students would not have to clear all subjects to get promoted. They can afford to fail in any one subject, while it is 2 papers for some classes. Only in classes IX & X, would students have to clear all subjects.
If you are wondering about the lowering of standards among students, then think again. There will be special remedial classes for students, who have failed to clear any particular subject. School hours will be increased by an extra 30 minutes. This will be utilised for an extra period daily, which would be equally distributed for remedial teaching, lifestyle education and environment studies. There will be around 200 working days every year and students would need at least 70 per cent attendance to get promoted.
While state-run schools are undergoing these changes, city-based English medium schools are forging ahead into uncharted territory. These school are going hi-tech, resorting to digital technology to further enhance learning and changing the traditional teaching-learning process.
Replacing the blackboard with LCD and plasma televisions, and the Internet, students are getting a taste of ‘smart classes’. This unique solution is aimed to enhance and enrich the process of teaching and learning in classrooms. Teachers have instant access to relevant instruction material, and also enables them assess and evaluate student learning. Teachers will be able to use digital resources such as graphics, animation, video clips, etc, in their teaching. While, DPS Ruby Park and Balygunge Shiksha Sadan has already installed ‘smart class’ facilities, DPS Mega City, Garden High and others plan to implement it in this academic session.
Classroom blues
Now are these changes just a fad of the changing times, or is it the real McCoy? A lot of soul-searching was done and the educational system was found wanting.
A lot of schools in the state were suffering from certain drawbacks, which were restricting the advancement of teaching and learning. Teaching was authoritative and teacher-centric. Classes were thus, mechanical and repetitive. So what happened was that students became passive listeners, and rarely participated actively in class. Thus, problem solving skills and tackling real-life situations were lacking in most students.
Lack of effective management skills, under-utilisation coupled with poor-quality teaching aids compounded the problem. What was criminal was that students were not looked after individually. There was a serious lack of teaching methodologies, and there were no tests to effectively assess the continuous progress of the students. There was also a lack in expertise in special education, and girl students were also found to be disadvantaged.
The proposed changes were suggested keeping in mind the suggestions of the National Curriculum Framework and various education commissions. The Framework suggested that students be able to “connect knowledge gained in the classroom to life outside school” and wean students away from rote methods. It is also evident, that it is extremely unfair to judge the merit of students on the basis of just the annual exams.
Testing times
The All Bengal Teachers Association feels that the changes would prove beneficial for students. “It is a very good approach to overhauling the education system. The unit tests will ensure that students study throughout the year, which in turn would boost their academic performance,” said the associations’ general secretary, Shiboprasad Mukhopadhyay.
But many teachers are unhappy. “With so many teaching posts vacant, how will we manage to conduct 32 extra classes throughout the week? Holding 8 unit tests would be an economic burden on schools. Moreover, it is not easy to evaluate 3,000 answer scripts every alternate week,” said Ashok Maity, general secretary of the West Bengal Headmasters Association. Teachers also have a grouse against the reduction in holidays by almost 20 days in a year. Many want the government to allow them paid leave.
Whatever be the opinion, it leaves no doubt, that the infrastructure of schools would be tested. Teachers would have shoulder newer responsibilities, and learn to adapt to the newer methods of teaching. Students likewise, would have to face a somewhat alien mode of learning. It would be the case of either sink or swim with the tide.
mou.hindustanimes@yahoo.com
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