Editor,
I was surprised and pained by the news item of your esteemed daily (ST July 26) regarding the MBBS entrance examination conducted by NEIGRIHMS (Shillong)on July 22, 2012). The result shows not a single student passed from Meghalaya. It was mandatory to score 50% marks as per the norms laid down by NEIGRIHMS. Further it is reported that out of 128 who qualified, 68 students are from Manipur and 60 students from Assam and elsewhere. It is ironic that Shillong is considered as the Oxford of the North East and students from all seven states flock here to receive quality education. Then how come this dismaying scenario? The reasons may be (i) Too much stress on English language oriented education. (ii) Lack of Mathematics & Science oriented education. (iii) Lack of killer instinct for competitive examination due to reservation policy (iv) The absence of a super coaching centre here. The time has come for Education policy maker of Meghalaya to ponder over this.
Yours etc.,
DP Joshi,
Shillong-14
We do need ‘some’ education
Editor,
Strange are the things that God does. But stranger are the things that man executes. Shillong is arguably still the educational hub of the North east. When one goes through the ranking of the Best schools in India, there are only two schools from the North east that figure in the list, namely the Assam Valley School and Loreto Convent. None of the schools from any other state in the North East figure anywhere. However, by a comedy of errors, none of the students from Shillong managed to clear the written test of NEIGRIHMS. Is this dumbness on the part of the students? Or is it the problem with the “level” (?) playing field that has been handed to them? In the last few years Khasi students have been excelling in their studies. The crop of toppers amongst them is increasing year to year. So, to think that they could not even achieve the mandatory 50% required in their entrance test is blasphemy.
I am proud to be a Meghalayan and I wish that some serious study is undertaken in this context… because to my mind the exams seem to have been rigged!
Yours etc.,
Toiaishan Lyngdoh,
Via email
Whither child rights?
Editor,
The letter, ‘Teacher or Tormentor’ (ST July 26, 2012) reveals the sad state of schools in Shillong. I empathize with the parents as they are helpless since there is no clear cut system/procedure in place to address such cases. One precious soul has already been lost on account of verbal and mental harassment-which could have easily been avoided had the school been more sensitive to the individual needs of students. Let such cases not happen again. It is no surprise that this senior teacher is unaware of child rights, the recent legislation on corporal punishment and the Right To Education Act since most schools do not have compulsory staff development programmes. Children need to be nurtured in safe and anxiety free environments. Cutting edge research has shown that negative disciplining(disparaging remarks, sarcasms and physical punishment) by teachers only increased violent behavior among students and that adolescents who were more likely to engage in fighting, bullying, and victimization of others had parents who used corporal punishment as a disciplining method. Schools need to address these issues immediately through training, purposeful parent-teacher meetings and regular school development programmes. The Government on its part can come out with uniform guidelines and procedures for schools to enable students, parents, etc. to lodge complaints to address issues like corporal punishment, bullying, etc. These should also include the nature of action to be taken if such cases arise.
Yours etc.,
E War,.
Via email