The Hindu : New Delhi News : No kidding

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

No kidding

readers'mail

NO KIDDING: It is high time tiny tots were relieved of the increasing burden of heavy school bags on their tender shoulders. Photo: Anu Pushkarna

No kidding

The changes mooted lately by the National Council of Educational Research and Training in school curricula inspire hope in the possibility of belated reforms in our education system. However, one major contradiction in the nature of changes proposed from different quarters calls for serious attention at the outset.

On the one hand, consensus is apparent in the proposals about the need to reduce the burden of "learning" on students; at the same time, numerous suggestions for addition of new courses seem to be pouring in constantly. While the proposed additions to the curriculum on environment, fine arts, entrepreneurship, computers, sex education, soft skills, counselling, yoga and physical education, gender studies and human rights, etc, all seem very exciting and promising, the resultant addition to the load of learning for the young pupil is not difficult to imagine.

Yet the contradiction implied in these divergent expectations from the curriculum might be resolved if we radically rethink our pedagogic models, course content and rules for assessment and evaluation in schools.

As far as the course content is concerned, standard papers in mathematics, sciences, grammar, etc., are indispensable, but considerable potential remains for cutting down the flab of information and precocious specialisation to produce thinner textbooks focusing on lucid insights and project work capable of enhancing understanding of relevant age groups in a cumulative fashion rather than compressing too much data from history, environment, biology, etc, repeatedly over the years in school life.

Another dire necessity is the promotion of ample choice for pupils in some areas. Thus while basic familiarity or working knowledge may be offered to all through general introductory courses in sciences, social studies, etc., the students may also be allowed to choose between advanced courses in fine arts, mathematics, foreign languages, etc., according to their taste, aptitude and future goals.

It is important that "non-academic options such as fine arts, crafts, entrepreneurship and sports are accorded adequate priority and weightage in final credits to reward the untapped talents of children from the lower strata of society in particular and to meaningfully address the problem of a high drop-out rate in our schools.

Dr. Devesh Vijay,

Reader in History,

Zakir Husain College,

University of Delhi,

New Delhi - 110 002.

Encounters?

For the past so many years I have been reading news reports of encounters between the police and naxalites, but I am at a loss to understand why in all such encounters the naxalites are killed and never captured alive or wounded! It means the police shoot them from point blank range to kill them in cold blood.

Or maybe the naxalites are so brave that they keep on fighting until their last breath? We may or may not agree with the policies of the naxalites but we have to admit they are deeply dedicated to their cause.

Ramesh Berry,

59, Kauwli Road,

Dehra Dun.

No homework?

I do not agree with Janaki Viswanathan whose letter, "Why homework?", appeared in these columns on March 21. Like her, I too am a parent, but I feel that homework or project work allotted to school children as assignment during the holidays is not meant to load them with study-related matter and deprive them of the joys of holidays. On the contrary, it is intended to invoke creativity, which normally is at its best during holidays, when the mind is relaxed. Creativity is the highest state of human mind. This has to be nurtured to great depths and childhood is the most desirable period and the holiday season most apt. The amount of homework allotted does not require full six-week involvement of the student. The authorities do recognise the need for change from the routine and would advocate outside visits and travel. But as an adult in this highly competitive world today the capability of every individual is distinguished in his/her ability to carry out multiple tasks at the same time and hence such assignments are to be construed as an exercise for moulding the character to face multi-pronged activities.

We Indians need to revise our thinking and attitude. A strike is considered successful in India if it causes total disruption and hardship and everything comes to a halt! Similarly holidays are considered by default not for work and invariably spent in gossip and sleep. There are very few parents who encourage their children to take part in social/extra-curricular activities that will fill the time during the holidays. We need to remember that like money, time is also earned. It is earned by investing the basic currency, which is work. Rest/leisure is passive. Recreation is active. As a child plays, he/she learns. Holiday homework and travel are the best combination for effective time management. The student who succeeds in both is most likely to swim against the odds in life. The parents who encourage both are likely to see their child well off. By the same token, parents who grumble or children who do not complete their homework both invariably suffer from shortcomings that need introspection.

S. Raghavan,

Block No. 23, Flat No. 502,

East End Apartments,

Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Extension,

Delhi - 110 096.

Research ?

Lakshmi B. Ghosh in her "Campus Jottings" titled "Taking the short cut to research" (April 7) paints a disheartening picture. Research associates apparently have to keep their guides happy by fetching milk and vegetables for their households. Senior faculty members claim to have done research on subjects that cannot be conducted because the required instruments are not available in the country. Research articles are stolen and published under false names. And now, in a widely publicised case in the Physics Department of Delhi University, a Reader applying for promotion to the post of Professor cited instances of research he had never undertaken.

What needs to be thoroughly looked into in all this is the "publish or perish" syndrome. It also needs to be investigated why, in many cases, research associates are expected to run errands for their guides. It would certainly help matters if in matters of promotion on our campuses research alone is not made the criterion. Adequate attention must be paid to teaching and to a teacher's contribution to the overall life of his or her institution.

Meanwhile, those who indulge in plagiarism and other forms of research fraud must be awarded exemplary punishment.

Vinod Chowdhury,

Head of the Department of Economics,

St. Stephen's College,

Delhi University,

Delhi - 110 007.

LIC's ways

Sir, -- I have applied for transfer of my son Master Ajit Singh's LIC policy (No. 113573486), registered with 11-J Branch, D.O-I, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, to Rewari Branch (Haryana) of the Life Insurance Corporation of India. Even two months later now no action has been taken on my request.

Whenever I visit their office, the dealing officer is not available. Frustrated, I have made a request to the Customer Relations Management (CRM) to get the matter speeded up. Even they have pleaded helplessness citing administrative reasons. I hope for some action now.

Dharamvir Singh,

103 Battalion,

Rapid Action Force,

Wazirabad,

New Delhi.

(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal address of the writer

and should be marked "Readers' Mail".)

Reader in History,

Zakir Husain College,

University of Delhi,

New Delhi - 110 002.

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