On 7th June a tweet was sent by @smritiirani asking for suggestions and feed back.
Following suggestions have been sent to the ministry
We have already heard about IITs and IIMs that are being planned. Higher Education undoubtedly deserves attention and proliferation at great speed and with appropriate quality. These institutions, if they have to produce quality human resource, would also need entrants who are properly prepared to assimilate the high quality inputs that would be imparted in these World Class Institutes.
This brings us to the all important question of how to improve and thereafter standardize the educational inputs at the Primary and Secondary Levels.
Following steps, over a period of time would bring greater transparency in the educational system.
- Introduce Pro-metric Tests ( with a substantially huge database of questions) in a bio metrically and digitally controlled environment before certifying a person fit for imparting education. Certification must be centralized and the standards must be commensurate to the quality of education that we intend to provide to the youngsters. This Certification ought to be absolutely foolproof so that not a single ineligible person can aspire to be a teacher.
- Classroom teaching is an activity done in public, and therefore, must be subject to control and evaluation. While, fresh investments are going to be done in building fresh schools or refurbishing the existing ones, every class room must have CCTV ( to be kept operational per force and not by option). This footage needs to be monitored at District Level by a team of officials who would be responsible for reporting any misdemeanor, misconduct or dereliction of duty by any teacher.The mere awareness of such a mechanism at work would eliminate 80% of the neglect practiced by the teaching staff across the country. In view of the forthcoming broadband connectivity at all places, this would be a fairly achievable objective.
- To create a level field for all students, the syllabus needs to be standardized across the State. Not just the content but the form of imparting the educational content must be standardized through greater digital content bringing a minimum assurance of quality of the inputs. At the Primary Level, this would be extremely important as students become progressively incapacitated to absorb higher level inputs due to lag in understanding the primary inputs appropriately.
- Examination System needs to be streamlined at every level of education. Board examinations at 5th, 10th and 12th standard is hardly sufficient to certify the capabilities of the students. Identifying laggards at these long intervals leaves the opportunity to improve the students’ academic career to the internal examination system of the school which is subjective and fruitless at the end of the day. Introduce, pro-metric tests at each standard that the student crosses.
- Talent Search is a National Duty. This must not only be a Science Talent Search. Ministry of HRD must constitute a Talent Search Department which would draw out plans for Searching Talent in the Field of Innovation, Art, Sports, Social Leadership, Technology etc. Identify the Talent before the age of 12 and then channelize the state’s assets to route the Talent to fully bloom in the preferred area by the age of 24. Specialized Universities/ Institutes for niche areas of academic and social excellence need to be formed.
To sum it up, Use of Technology for imparting the right inputs, assessing the right impact and tracking the academic and intellectual growth of every student would go a long way in creating the Nation of our Dreams.
Thanks and regards
Shawshanko Chowdhury
- Debt and Other Traps - July 8, 2014
- Media and Governance - June 11, 2014
- Suggestions for Education - June 10, 2014
