Mangalore: Teachers, Students Seek Changes in Education System


The Hindu

Mangalore, Nov 12: Teachers and students of degree colleges have sought changes in the education system to make learning more enjoyable and career-oriented.

Participating in an interaction session with members and member-secretary of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission here on Wednesday, they sought an end to examinations that tested merely students’ memory power rather than their skills and aptitude.

They wanted the number of teaching hours in colleges to be reduced. They suggested that students be exposed to rural life and real-life situations. One of the participants demanded that all students be provided hands-on training in industries or organisations depending on their course. Another student said that all colleges should have playground.

Suggestions of teachers included introducing “task-based” syllabus and getting college campuses rid of political influences. They also demanded value-based education and personality development programmes for students. A few teachers suggested that there should be better interaction between students and teachers.

Many teachers said that granting “real autonomy” for colleges and universities would help solve several problems plaguing the education system.

Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University K.M. Kaveriappa led students and teachers in making this demand. He pointed out that many colleges that were known for academic excellence were not able to seek autonomy owing of paucity of resources. In such cases, a group of colleges could be given autonomy, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor also sought inclusion of yoga and meditation, computer education and personality development programmes in school syllabus. He said that India could hardly be called a developed nation until 20 per cent of its population enrolled for higher education. To achieve this, the number of universities and colleges in the country should increase twofold, Prof. Kaveriappa. M. Muniyamma, member of the knowledge commission, said that education should try to empower students.

Member-secretary of the commission M.K. Shridhar, its member Ramachandra Bhatt Kotemane, Registrar of the university K. Chinnappa Gowda participated in the programme.

  

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Comment on this article

  • denis khan, Mumbai

    Sat, Nov 14 2009

    We should popularize the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) which comprises three main elements: experience, reflection and action. For such a learning process to be successful, it must include a pre-learning element, that of context, and a post-learning element, that of evaluation. The other reality is of allowing children to just be and discover themselves. Parents and teachers have a key role to play over here. Schools should set aside an hour every week for children to browse for well chosen books from the school library, and develop a taste for good literature. They should be introduced to the pleasure of reading out passages aloud.

    Their pronunciation would improve, besides kindling a passionate love for words in them. Today India's population is about 1.25 billion and 35 percent are below the poverty line, but in absolute terms it can be said that about 750 million are above the poverty line almost amounting to double the population which existed at the time of independence. Now coming to the next issue, the author seems to squarely blame the politicians for all the ills of the Indian polity. I disagree with this. In my opinion the society is equally to blame for some of our ills.

    For example, we have allowed an education system to thrive which ill equips our youth to face the challenges of life. To my mind any reform of our system/ society needs to consider reforms in our education system. Environmental issues Nature study Conservation

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  • Jenifer, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 11 2009

    Its very timely of them to seek these changes. Youngsters today come out of colleges with just a piece of paper in their hand that is called 'A Certificate' It wasn't so before. My spouse makes use of his training to fix faulty electric plugs, fix malfunctioning mixie and repairs door handles or any carpentry assistance that is required and he owes this knowledge to his PUC/College education.

    I save with stitching cost night-dresses, or house ware of me and our children. Obviously a dress required fixing a zip does not go to the tailor. I understand why the teachers and students seek the changes.

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