Importance of education affects the status of every country. Status of a country is all based on the quality of education it provides. It is the our responsibility checking quality of our education and maintaining status of our country.
In Kerala, we studied lower primary education of DPEP (District Primary Education Programme) syllabus where we should carry colour pencils, art works describing subject matter and assignments. It was fun working with those subjects. In upper primary section including history,geography and science we had tough exams which makes us usually complain about the mysterious questioning style. They includes pictures of birds and vehicles for questioning subjects like physics and chemistry. That resulted in absence of surety about result prediction. Unexpectedly division of marks were liberal . That provided confidence for the next exam to create answers. The next year was more interesting; analysing questions and creating answers.
Instead of direct questions that could be answered only through memorizing the lessons, indirect questions and open ended questions were included so that the student needed to think before answering, and the answers could be subjective to some extent. This meant that the students had to digest what they studied and had to be able to use their knowledge in a specific situation to answer the questions. Present social situations like political and economical issues related with subjects became questions. That created the importance of being updated with the news. At the same time, the new method took away a lot of pressure and the children began to find examinations interesting and enjoyable instead of being stressful. We understood the value of our education is precious when we migrated from Kerala to our neighboring state for higher education.
Teacher - The model
In India, a great system named 'Gurukula' was been practiced in olden ages. The student should go for his guru requesting for his approval as a disciple. After his acceptance he should live with him gathering every knowledge his master can provide. Metaphysics and philosophy were the main core subjects taught.
The main lesson taught by gurukula system is the teacher itself. Every teacher should be a model for students to follow the right path.
Now a days the quality of a teacher should be checked. I personally categorize modern teachers as 4 types.
1. Newspapers - they just read the information.
2. Radios - they will not allow doubts
3. Kings - they think they should rule students
4. Politicians - they say if you have any doubt then
ask me, if you have any problem then
tell me etc. And escapes in needs.
We can't blame our teachers alone for this situation. The quality less education and improper teacher training makes the 'Newspapers'. The teacher selection of authorities without finding or analysing his abilities creates 'Radios'. The people meant for serving students are transformed to rulers and the system continues within themselves. When one becomes teacher he/she utilize their position as an opportunity to rule students, as it was for them.
Improper teacher training programmes and its implementation failure are the basic reason behind this condition. Training levels should be effective such that the teachers should understand how to make the students gather knowledge, think and analyze things for a better future. Proper training levels provide better knowledge about how the students can perform well with their brains.
'Amir khan' the erudite Bollywood actor explains the best concept of teaching in his movie '3 idiots'. He says ' Even the lion of zoo will do actions as its master suggests, we will not call lion 'well educated' but we say 'well trained' '. Well educated means they should know how to analyze and create. In my personal opinion I think we can create masterminds with the help of changing the present way of teaching in a slightly different manner. We have four levels of Indian school system : lower primary (age 6 to 10), upper primary (11 and 12), high (13 to 15) and higher secondary (17 and 18). In the lower primary level, manners like punctuality cleanliness etc. should be taught including the basic of subjects. Stories should be told effectively so that imagination and capability for thinking can be made even from childhood. In the upper primary section they should study the language so that they can learn everything reading ie. without translation. Another thing is the art of learning should be thought. Other than mental photography technique memorizing every line, the theory can be zipped by relating it with some other ideas and can be stored in memory. A student with proper language skills can elaborate the zipped concept eloquently.
In the high school level they should include some subjects and activities that can help them finding their career. They should be checked how effectively they can produce their potential abilities out. The exam should have a better interview level that check his/her skills of being a student which includes aptitude and creativity. Exams should not bother them while enjoying studying. During the higher secondary education they should realize the core of their abilities and should select subjects accordingly. There should be enough guidance specially allotted to support such departmental qualities. They should be taught how effectively the modern technology can help them in achieving their interests.
Apart from this there should be a revision of base in every levels. The teachers should try to create curious minds so that the education become much more interesting. They should make the students able to think out of the box through debates and group discussions.
Our government can do a lot more for improving our quality of education. Corruption in examinations aiming at the good result outcome from school is also a threat for our society. Corrupted government officers and syllabus selection creates a foolish generation. Updating the syllabus at times in accordance with the improving technology is the suitable way of creating a new great India.
Kerala was the first state in the country to introduce Information Technology as a subject of study at the High School level. It was started in class 8 with the textbook introducing Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. Once you establish these methods throughout our country, the idea will make you feel like its implacable. Changes are happening all around. Let those changes direct us towards a bright future.
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