The Hindu : New Delhi News : Kalam for open book exams

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Kalam for open book exams

By Our Staff Reporter

A student from Chennai touching the feet of the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, after receiving a painting award at the CBSE Platinum Jubilee function in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Union HRD Minister, Arjun Singh, and his Minister of State Mohammed A li Ashraf Fatimi (centre) look on. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI, JULY 28. Taking a strong note of "indiscriminate and too frequent changes taking place in the syllabus of school textbooks", the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today suggested formation of a Standing Council with apolitical educationists as members for ensuring consistency.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the Central Board of Secondary Education's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations here, Dr. Kalam said there has to be provision to accommodate new things that would help children in their future life, but at the same time the content and teaching of the syllabus should be such that it does not load young minds but helps them enjoy learning, be imaginative and creative.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the examination system of the CBSE, he said: "I find there is a demand for a more transparent and reliable system of examination, evaluation and reporting. It is also noticed that the examination primarily tests the memory of students."

Recalling his own experience at MIT Chennai where the open book examination was conducted, Dr. Kalam recommended that the CBSE consider introducing the same system to eliminate the possibility of question paper leakage.

Emphasising the need for a secure examination system, he said teachers and the evaluation system should have the ability to recognise the special talents of the youth. Drawing the CBSE's attention to complaints received by him about discrepancy in evaluation, Dr. Kalam suggested establishment of a core group to draw random sample from each batch and carry out independent evaluation.

"Special training must be carried out by CBSE for certifying the examiners in the evaluation process. In short, CBSE must get an ISO certification for the evaluation system," he said.

Commenting on the recent fire tragedy at Kumbakonam, the President said it was part of CBSE's responsibility to assess not just a school's academic prowess but also its physical features by ensuring they fulfil certain safety features. Asking CBSE to make the affiliation process more strict, the President said the process should be such that even a waiver from the President does not allow such schools to be given affiliations.

Earlier in his speech, he discussed three models of education that have proved to be successful in reducing the drop-out rate and creating a sustained interested in learning among students across the country.

He first quoted the example of M.R. Raju, a nuclear scientist who left his job with Loas Alamos Laboratory in the U.S. to help transform Peddamiram village in Andhra Pradesh. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical Trust opened by him educates children in the 2-to-5 years age group by providing a playful environment and nutritional support. The other two models suggested by him were the Azim Premji model of computer-aided accelerated learning and a tele-education model for long reach that, the President said, could help schools faced with a shortage of teachers.

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