This is my personal opinion and also my personal experience regarding our traditional schooling. Let me get right to the point and say there are a lot of things wrong with our schooling system.
From birth
From the time I could remember, I was told to study, concentrate, learn things, be at the top of the class, look up to other kids who scored higher, and put in extra effort to study, if I don't study you will not succeed, you will not get a job, get loads of money, get a beautiful wife, etc.....
The list goes on. And I'm tired. From the time we are born ti
Until we die, we are told to follow a system and make sure not to break any rules.
Why is the current schooling/education system insufficient?
When the government decided to get a uniform, structured education system for the country, it was for a good reason. To make sure that everyone has access to basic education. Education is the pillar on which a country is built. So, in the early days, it was the right decision to make education a basic right and get every kid in the block to school.
The government set up a syllabus based on the technology and the needs of the time in which the rules were written. Experts of the time, set up a structure and chose topics that were needed for a child. That could help him venture into the world and stand on his own. It was well and good, many got educated, they go the job, they discovered the world, they invented new things, and they changed the world. But the structure remained the same, even though the syllabus was modified a few times.
The unhealthy competition
I like to personally call it the rat race. I was a part of it for a long time. I was told to be part of it by my parents since I can remember. Always having to be stressed to reach a certain level of academic and social acceptance. School rank is based on the marks we get. There is nothing wrong with ranks. Ranks are good, they help us to understand what we are good at, and what we are bad at. But, what is wrong is how we see the ranks.
Is it a scale for our intelligence?
Does it measure our IQ?
Are you a failure if we get low ranks?
We kind of know the answers straight away. But, without a good education, can you get a good job? Without good scores, how will you get into a university of your parent's choice?
I'll let you watch a video for a better understanding. It's not my video but I'm pretty sure I can relate to the creator.
The current education system makes up mug up a whole lot of theory and vomits it on the answer paper. It doesn't differentiate between arts and engineering and medicine up until you join university. everyone has to study the same things till university. I still don't know what half equations I learned in maths are used for. Though physics and chemistry came in handy. But physics and chemistry I studied just for passing and I never felt the connection between real life and textbook subjects.
What can be done?
India has taken a big step with NEP(National Education Policy) draft. It's a huge step in reforming the outdated education system of a country. But the hardest part is implementing this educational reform. Rather than focusing on the subject that is being taught, it has to focus on the student.
What can the student benefit from learning this?
When will he apply it in life?
Where will he apply it?
Why should he learn it?
Who should it be taught to?
How will he use it in real life?
Always ask these questions before you do anything. You should be able to answer these questions, otherwise, it's just data gathering which a memory card or data storage device can do, which is not at all impressive in the present era.
What's impressive is the ability to utilize these data and produce new data or results. That must be our prime aim. For that, we must develop cognitive, creative, and lateral thinking processes.
The way forward
Teach your kids to ask these questions and ignite the fire of curiosity when they are young. Instill the flames of knowledge and not just mere data. Teach them, lead through example, and learn with them. Show them the way and let them make their own decisions. Let them make mistakes, let them learn from their mistakes, and let them grow.
Keep them away from mobile screens and tv and let them learn the truth and joy of the world. Help them identify right and wrong. They will rebel, they will defy the system. Let them prove they are not the mindless robots that society wants them to be.
Commentaires