The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : School reform

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

School reform

The views expressed in the article "School reform: learning from Iqbal" (Oct. 18) deserve praise. Schools have become too profit-oriented. Teachers and their training institutions too have become numb towards the idea of education as a holistic programme for children.

Maybe parents should start playing a supportive role by changing their priorities and lowering their expectations.

Winston Moses,
Virudhunagar, T.N.

The movie Iqbal is a must-see for all because the entire society is in one way or another responsible for curbing the aspirations of children. Curricular reform does help. But attitudinal change should come from within for which Iqbal may hopefully pave the way.

S. Ananthi,
Hyderabad

The article raises a number of important points, some of which practitioners in child development have tried to introduce. If the school system ignores the sage counsel and humanism of this approach, India will be the worse for it. I was charmed and moved by the film, Iqbal, and would happily make it a requirement for teacher training if I had a say.

S. Anandalakshmy,
Chennai

The views are no doubt laudable. But one cannot also lose sight of the ground realities, which are governed by two major factors. First, school and college education still remains just a passport to employment. The need for survival overrides the urge to nurture special talents. Secondly, the all- pervasive quota system will just not allow any institution to devote exclusive attention to exceptionally talented children.

G. Gururaj,
Chennai

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