The Hindu : Kerala News : Introduce reforms on a scientific basis

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Kerala

Kerala

Introduce reforms on a scientific basis

The State government is understood to be considering the removal of the minimum pass mark stipulation for each subject for annual promotion from Classes I to X as the system stands in the way of otherwise bright students who cannot make the grade in some subjects however hard they tried. Our readers respond:

Seek expert opinion

The government’s move to lift the minimum mark stipulation is not a wise move. Our school education system is designed to enable students to get a basic idea of all the subjects. It will help them choose their area of specialisation later. Those students who are weak in one subject should be given proper guidance and support. However, the government should introduce reforms only on the basis of scientific information gathering. The service of experts should be solicited to guide the Education Department. Any haphazard move will put the whole system in jeopardy and affect the student community.

K.K. Kunhi Kannan

Koyilandy

Basics are a must

The purpose of education is to create good citizens. Basic knowledge of all subjects is needed and the school curriculum is prepared to achieve this goal. If a minimum mark or grade is not required for a pass, students will not study the subjects they do not like or will avoid attending classes. Minimum pass mark stipulation for each subject for annual promotion from Class I should be continued to enable students to get a general idea of all subjects. The study of all subjects and fixing of a minimum pass mark or grade should continue up to Class VII instead of Class X.

Madhavanunni

Pattambi

Partly right

The removal of minimum pass mark for each subject for annual promotion from classes I to X is welcome but only partly. To deal with day-to-day life, one should know mathematics, history, science and language at the primary level. So in the primary classes, the study of these subjects should be ensured. But in the higher classes, weakness in one or two subjects should not be allowed to stand in the way of bright students. They should be allowed to study in depth the subjects in which they are interested.

Athulya S. Kumar

Marikunnu

Deplorable move

What blunder is the government proposing to do, by promoting all students till Class X, without adhering to the pass mark criteria or attendance? It was another blunder the Education Minister did by promoting more than 92% of students for SSLC, by giving moderation generously. From LKG to Class XII, there should have some qualifications, merits, and some criteria for promotion to the next grade. In some schools, even for admission to kindergarten, there are tests and interviews. There is nothing wrong in them because they should have the required standard for the class. The present system is not bad and what is proposed is wrong.

Neelandon Kuruvattoor

Ottappalam

A thoughtless move

On this year’s school admission day, I heard a teacher speaking on All India Radio about the success of her school in the SSLC examinations. Elaborating on her teaching strategies, the teacher said as most of the Class X students do not know the alphabets, she starts with the alphabets. The fact that even after nine plus years of school education, the students do not even know the alphabets seems quite strange. It is all good to offer payasam and free text books to children. At the same time there should be a little effort to teach them at least the alphabets in lower classes. The move to abandon the term examinations will be counter-productive as it gives the teachers an excuse not to finish the lessons. Also, the decision to abolish minimum marks for subjects is thoughtless. The students should at least learn to make simple calculations or write their name correctly.

K.A. Solaman

S L Puram

Exams are important

If examinations have got any purpose, they should not be done away with. Selection to administrative services and professional courses is based on written examinations. Probably this explains the importance of examinations. It is mentioned that students ‘otherwise bright’ fail to get minimum marks in some subjects however hard they may try. How bright they are remains a question. In ordinary parlance, a bright student gets high marks in all subjects. If one does not, one cannot be called a bright student.

Up to the school level, education is broad-based. Whereas one should be an expert in one’s profession, one should have an acceptable level of general awareness or one will be like the proverbial frog in the well. That is the very purpose of broad-based education.

Examinations are meant to assess the progress made by the students in their studies. If the conventional examination is hateful, let us think of some other ways of assessing the students. Continuous assessment, of course, is a sensible alternative, but that again boils down to examinations in practice.

P.V. Divakaran

Avittathur

Strict valuation

Raising the pass percentage is not a right measure. Remove the system of pass and fail. Whatever is the system to assess students, be it marks or grades, there should be no compromise on the valuation procedure. Some students are good in mathematics and physics. Some others are interested in languages. When a student tries to make progress in the subjects in which he/she is weak, the other subjects suffer, resulting in an overall poor performance. The doors further studies should not be shut up on such students. Allow them to concentrate on the subjects of their interest and let them score good marks in them. Berkwins C.W

Kuriachira

Strong base necessary

We have already seen the fiasco created by the educationists in the case of SSLC examination. Such a measure of non-fulfilment of educational standard is now going to be applied to the lower classes as well. Such a lopsided educational reform will mean the degradation of whatever standards we have achieved in education sector. It is next to impossible to have cent per cent success in all classes from Class I to X with complete disregard to minimum pass mark in any subject. The subjects taught in the primary and secondary classes are the foundation on which higher education is built up. If the foundation itself is weak and hollow, how can anyone build any structure on it?

The future generations will never forgive such ‘Utopian’ reforms which will shatter educational standards. No one will recognise the certificates issued by the department of school education from Kerala. Who has given permission to play with the future of the ‘citizens of tomorrow’? Such foolish ideas should be nipped in the bud itself.

Capt. O.B.Nair

Poonithura

Avoid moderation

Looking at the SSLC result this year, it is better to give full marks to students of Classes I to X. Only those who have the minimum-prescribed attendance should be given a chance for promotion to the next class. Giving moderation is not a good practice. Instead, let them move on to the next class, if they are present in the class always. Parents, teachers and students all are interested in the students getting promoted to the next class, whether they have studied well or not. In such a circumstance, why should they not be promoted? Let them get a chance till Class X. After that, the criteria for Class XI pass should be more than 50% and Class XII, it should be 40%.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Gandhi Square

Give enough thought

The government is bringing in one reform after other. The exuberance of the government is suspect. There should be proper deliberations and scientific assessment before a reform is brought in. The age of the students in question is a very vital aspect. The brain is free and a lot of natural learning takes place. It can be easily influenced. Our reforms should not create more drop outs. The emphasis should be on quality rather than quantity.

P.K. Varadaraj

Kannur

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