Editor,
Education helps an individual to live a balanced life. It contributes to the overall development of the individual. However, the present education system is producing individuals who are engaged in rote learning just to pass exams. Education therefore fails to teach the learner the life skills. World Literacy Day 2014 was observed on September 8. It is worthwhile reflecting on the status of education in Meghalaya.
According to the 2011 census, the literacy rate in Meghalaya is 74.43 percent – an increase of 11.47 percent from the 2001 census. However, we should focus on the literacy rate alone since it is not the only indicator for education. What is of concern is what learning actually happens in schools. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) is an annual survey that aims to provide reliable estimates of children’s enrollment and basic learning levels for each district and state in India. The study aims at assessing the basic reading and arithmetic abilities. A look at some of the findings of the ASER of 2013 in rural Meghalaya reflects the dismal reality of the learning that happens in our schools. In reading ability, only 62.7 percent of Class V students could read a Standard II level text book while in Arithmetic, only 46.9 percent of Class VI students could perform subtraction and 24 percent of students of Class VI could do division. There is not much difference in the quality of education in private and government schools, although the private schools fare better. 69.3% of Class V students could read a Standard II level textbook in a private school as compared to 58.4 % in government schools.
These figures are not mere statistics but reflect a deeper malaise in our education system. This is the reason why many students from rural areas are not able to pass their Class X board exams. Those who do get through find it difficult to cope with higher education in colleges and universities. We need to be concerned not only about enrollment rates but the actual learning that takes place. The Government no doubt is taking strides to implement the Right to Education (RTE) by increasing the enrollment and literacy rates. It is noteworthy that along with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, it is also implementing a competency based curriculum in primary schools of Mylliem Block, East Khasi Hills District.
Our education system cannot make students dependent on the system but rather it should facilitate learning. A competency based curriculum will help enhance the learning in our children and youth. This paradigm shift in the education system is required, starting from the primary levels and moving upward into higher education. We should do away with the banking concept of education that leaves students as receiving objects but allow education be a tool to strengthen capacities of children and youth. This should start in the cradle.
Yours etc.,
Dr Melari Nongrum,
Asstt Professor, Social Work, MLCU
Putting secularism on its head
Editor,
Apropos the letter by Bismarck R Manners (ST Sep 9,2014) wherein he has sharply criticized Mr Narendra Modi for his every move and blamed him as a preacher of a certain religion, I can well understand the writer’s sentiments. But it is also equally true that as a citizen of a secular country everybody has the right to express himself/herself and Modi is doing the same. Mr Manners questions how Modi could gift the Bhagvad Gita to the Japanese Prime Minister during his visit to Japan. Well, the Holy books like , Bible, Gita, Quran do not have any boundary. They are all universally accepted as codes of morality.
Yours etc.,
Anjan Das,
Shillong-6