The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : UK teachers impressed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

UK teachers impressed

Staff Reporter

But creative learning not given importance here, feel Britishers

INTERACTION: Maria McGinley interacting with teachers and staff of the Crescent Higher Secondary School, Vandalur, on Friday. — Photo : A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM: A delegation of teachers from the United Kingdom are delighted and impressed at the cordial relationship that teachers of Chennai schools share with their students. The delegation forms part of the Teachers International Professional Development Programme of the British Council.

The delegation visited eight schools in the city in the past two days, interacting with students and teachers in order to gain a better understanding of the teaching methods adopted here. And the focus of the delegation's visit to India was `creativity in education.' The delegation visited the Crescent Higher Secondary School, Vandalur, on Friday.

According to Maria McGinley, leader of the delegation, the delegation was impressed with the present system in schools in Chennai. Though she was personally of the view that creative learning was not given as much importance as it ought to here, Ms. McGinley said they were delighted with the warm relationships that the teachers have with the students.

The Head Teacher at the Newbold Church of English Primary School in Chesterfield, she said even in her country, the concept of 'creativity in education' was given importance only in the past decade or so. She said that normal and conventional learning may help the students to learn a subject thoroughly. But, the students may not be able to answer some questions or arrive at solutions for problems in practical life. The absence of creativity in education made it stifling for students and would not give them a feeling of independence, she said. The delegation also witnessed martial arts and `silambam' demonstrations given by the school students. Dawood Shah, Principal of the school was also present.

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