“Learn your way” awareness campaign

 Today the education system has laid more emphasis on the marks and subject matter is completely forgotten at the end of the period. Students who try to understand are lesser because that is never encouraged-instead they have been asked to by-heart the things so that they are able to vomit the same in the answer paper. Marks are important but they havent been the measurement of the understanding but of how much students are able to cram. Many places students have been just asked to write whatever is in the text even if they are wrong as the evaluator will only rely on the textual content and not the actuals. This must not be the case. A person getting high class marks and ranks soemtimes do not actually posses the exact required knowledge. Languages are also taught at school but students actually do not learn the language-they only learn how to write the exam. It is time some major step is taken in this aspect to ensure that education lays emphasis on knowledge rather than emphasising on cramming. 

Akila, you make some valid points on what our curriculums should promote, especially the one on self-expression.

The other day was traveling by train, came across these 2 kids (guess 7-8yr olds) - one lived in India and the other kid seems to have come for vacation from San Francisco. While the SF kid was able explain a complicated nintendo game elaborately, the other kid was unable to respond when asked what food he liked.

I don't mean to generalize but just wanted to bring about the pt that we've for long been appreciated for being passive. Kids are taught to obey, follow instructions, respect, etc at the expense of asking questions and learning to express themselves (without hesitation).

However I do believe things are looking up, with reasons ranging from the many learning sources to the ambitious education reforms by our HRD Minister.

P.S. One more thing, maybe we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously - fun should be the buzzword while dealing with children.

- Vinay

The curriculum does have quite a few shortcomings... It does not take into account the concept of Multiple Intelligences. It does not cater to different interests, different strenghts, different learning pace...

Suraj,

One main challenge is the curriculum itself. It promotes rote learning and collective thinking. We are llemings, we are sheep, we follow the flock.... The curriculum must promote self expression, individual thought, creative thinking....