An Open Letter To the CBSE
To the CBSE Board,
I'm a class 10 student from a CBSE affiliated school in Trivandrum,Kerala.I've received a CGPA(Cumulative Grade point Average) 10 for the last academic year and I hope to get the same for the board exams for which I will be appearing at the end of this academic year.I wish to pursue Social Science and aspire to work on the United Nations.I'm writing this open letter to bring to your attention my views on the much debated CCE system(Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation).
There has been a lot of speculations lately as to whether the CBSE is going back to square one with the re-implementation of the age old system of board exams for students of CBSE schools who are at present following the CCE method,which was implemented during the UPA government's rule.I don't believe in party politics but I do believe in the power of education in transforming our lives.And hence I would say that the introduction of CCE has indeed been a milestone in the history of our education system.
CCE focuses on the all round evaluation of students while at the same time helping them to foster their talents and skills through the numerous activities that they are expected to be part of.Students are also evaluated on the basis of their character and attitude besides their studies. In that way I believe that it does to a great extent replace the spoon fed rote-learning that students over the years have been following.It offers them an alternative to prove their excellence.
Education, from the view point of great thinkers and philosophers which I also happen to share,must be focused on the all round development of an individual.As Katie Lusk rightly puts it-"Education means inspiring someone's mind;not just filling their head".It should not be a process that is limited to scribbling mugged up facts on a piece of paper.And if ever our education system tends to be a one that grades only those who can memorize facts and figures and reproduce it whenever asked to as being outstanding 'A' grade students,then I strongly believe that it would no doubt become a mere farce.
A major reason why foreign education is considered to be far better than Indian education is because of our lack of practical skill based education.Developed countries like the USA or Australia or European nations follow a curriculum that gives as much importance to arts and sports as biology or physics.They give creativity its space in the learning process.Even with the CCE on,we are nowhere near their system of education.Undoubtedly,if CCE is taken out of the charts then I do strongly believe that the quality of our education will deteriorate.If promotion to higher classes is solely based on your theory knowledge and not on how productive an individual you are,then how can we expect our students to compete with those who follow the foreign curriculum.This indeed is a major reason as to why inspite of having a large human resource we still are not able to march ourselves out from brand of 'developing' country.
Most students across the country who speak against the system are often the ones who top the charts with a 100 on 100.Most people want the old system of ranks and board exams to be brought back so that they get a chance to publicly outshine others.People don't want themselves to be tagged along with other average students on a 9 point scale just because they consider themselves to be of a superior order.Many students are also sick of putting up a good appearance including good study habits as well as social habits throughout the year which form an integral part of our assessment as well.They rather prefer to have a system of education that is purely mark based and not character based.If such is the response that education creates among our students then why do we even think of spending our nation's GDP on educating children?To create insensitive individuals?To nurture a culture of self centered practices?Or to foster corrupt officials and bureaucrats?
"Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer;into a selflessness that links us with humanity"-Nancy Astor.
And if education should link us with humanity, we need a system that gives each individual his space.A system that gives each individual an opportunity to nurture his skills and abilities.A system that gives importance to one's talents as much as it gives to one's power of memorizing.A system that teaches us to accommodate differences and feel the essence of being together.Only then can we raise individuals who are productive economically and socially for the nation.
We need socially responsible and sensitive individuals to be moulded out of the process of education;not race horses that are fed and bred well to compete their lives out.
Enlightening. Still is the CCE system without blemishes? - Dr Arshad Kalliath
ReplyDeleteThank you uncle.I am not of the opinion that the CCE system is without any blemishes.Like how every coin has two sides, the CCE comes with its own bunch of problems.The efficiency of execution of the system itself is an issue to be pondered upon.But I believe that CCE as an ideology and a methodology is best suited for our education.It demands consistency in performance from each student and provides her with alternative opportunities.I believe that any reform in our education system should be about making the CCE more efficient and not on discarding the whole system.
DeleteI fully agree Suruma. But the problem with the system (CCE)is that those who are supposed to sustain it are failing in their responsibility. Then it is for the authorities to ensure that the system is well maintained with utmost sincerity and transparency. In many schools, we know the assessment pattern is based on personal and institutional considerations, rather than purely academic. It calls for both system change and systemic change. It is a moral commitment too. When I say system change, it means the system should change in itself by becoming transparent and accountable. Systemic means, it should be methodical and experimental, rather than 'radical'. 'Radical' itself may become very reactionary. We know that the worst thing happens under Kerala syllabus. Marks are liberally given to ensure 'excellence' in performance. It all becomes a bubble when the beneficiaries become incapable of facing challenges with 'grand' grades. I therefore agree that the very foundation of the system needs overhaul, not throwing away. Our new gen students are both the victims and beneficiaries of the pattern that now exists. K.M.Seethi
ReplyDeleteI totally agree.The CCE as a system is one of the best though a change in its execution is inevitable in most cases.For the sucees of any program it is of paramount importance that those involved work with sincerity and maintain transparency.But CCE is not about giving away marks liberally.It is about providing students an alternative opportunity to prove their excellence.In my school we are assessed on the basis of how we do debates,seminars,dramas and projects.
DeleteFor example,in our Mathematics Formative Assessment (internals),we were graded on the basis of crosswords, puzzles,colouring the boxes that contain the correct trigonometric relations to identify the hidden animal(an advanced form of what we used to do in kindergarten) and activity books besides regular test papers.But that does not in any way mean that we are given marks liberally.
But I do agree that the system of CCE needs proper channeling so that every individual becomes a beneficiary rather than a victim.
welcome.
ReplyDelete