Our school and university system leaves a lot to be desired. We have an ever-expanding population and not enough seats in schools and universities to keep pace with our unhappy, stressed out or simply bored fecund population. Sure, we churn out our fair share of doctors, lawyers, engineers and IT professionals, but we do that after braving the odds.
On the subject of beating the odds, did I forget to mention that children with special needs are also included in this group, as they struggle daily to keep pace with their peers? In schools, we like to mix it up, keep the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) children with the spoilt brats of wealthy parents in the same class so that they can grow up with a massive complex, fall victims to peer pressure and bullying while trying to understand what the teacher is rattling on about in English, a language that they were never taught. The government only makes education accessible for EWS children up to grade 8; by law, their disadvantaged parents must pay the same school fees as their affluent counterparts or leave the school. We are left with children who have a below-average understanding of any subject and do not reach grade 10.
There is nothing wrong with inclusion and education for all, but it needs to be done sensibly and sensitively to reap the maximum benefits for all concerned. One could have separate sections in the fancy private schools dedicated to the EWS and Special needs children, respectively. Get specially trained teachers who are sensitive to these children's needs and capable of teaching them at a comfortable pace, as opposed to racing through the syllabus. Make learning a fun experience, encourage them to ask questions and allow them to be curious. Have a facility for tuition that are free post-school hours for these students because they can't exactly afford private tuition, and their (EWS) parents are often illiterate. Let's get the government to go the whole hog and give free education to the EWS from nursery to grade 12. Let's build more schools and universities while we are at it so everyone can get a basic education. Put the taxpayer's money to good use for a change.
The existing textbooks in schools and universities are so repetitive and set in their ways, as they are extremely dull and dry to a whole new level. They are an endless saga of, in a few cases, propaganda, distortion of facts, written by some fossil who hasn't cracked a smile since their third birthday. Learning may be many things, but fun is not one of them here. These authors might have collected all the degrees, but this does not mean that what they churn out is worth reading. No one likes to be preached to; I might be guilty of the same. However, our education system is focused on rote learning; do not question the textbook or the teacher. Reproduce the text on the answer sheet, and you are guaranteed full marks. That is why when some of these children go to university abroad, they are in over their heads because the other system is based on logic, research and reasoning. We need to cut that brick-sized textbook into half, get to the point, keep it simple, encourage questions and accept that we as adults and educators also must keep evolving with the times.
Why must we wake up at dawn and get ready for school? Most of us are not at our most productive at 5-6 am. Children need at least 10-12 hours of sleep, so it's not a bad idea to start school a little later, like 10 am, and nobody said that each class needs to go on for half an hour. Our attention span lasts only 20 minutes, so it's more productive if there are exciting mediums used for teaching, mix it up, have frequent breaks, playtime should always be included, and breaks for nutritious food - and then they could return to studies. Happy learners and happy teachers are what I say. On the subject of teachers, we can improve upon the existing lot; perhaps an increase in pay, a little respect, and a healthcare package might make all the difference.
Instead of printing posters to 'think out of the box', let's try doing that for a change. It would be nice to untangle ourselves from all the knots we are stuck inside, be it in the name of rules, system, politics, ego, pettiness, jealousy, seniority, or red tape, so that we can stop looking like we are entangled in a game of Twister.
YOU ARE READING
#I'm Not Sorry
ChickLitThese are a series of short essays on topics ranging from gender equality, education, self-love and various other aspects that have a direct impact on our daily lives. This book, as the title suggest, is about being true to yourself and others, whil...
