By Benjamin Lyngdoh
Talk about throwing pearls to the pigs! Our MBOSE is at it again! At the very outset it begs the question, ‘do we focus on quality or shall we continue with deception and denial?’ At a time when our Board is playing catch up with others, it seems we have shot ourselves on the foot. Fact being, the issue of revamping textbooks was long overdue; so the entire initiative is commendable: but the procedure is not. If anything, it has raised more questions than answers. As such and on all counts, it looks as though this entire exercise has led us back to naught and a feeling of tasting old wine in a new bottle. Accordingly, I place the following pointers –
Firstly, why is the Board giving so much of importance to publishers and who exactly is a publisher? By all means, a publisher is more of a medium for developing and marketing a manuscript. In the true sense of the term, they do not involve in writing manuscripts. They are more of middle men. In the value chain of ‘writing a manuscript (the start)-reviewing a manuscript-its publication and marketing-disseminating the manuscript to the students (the end)’ the publishers fall smack right in the middle. As such, they have a minimal role on the content of the manuscript. Their only job is to print and bind the manuscript. Hence, the task of our board in relation to the publisher is to analyse and evaluate which publisher is willing to develop and commercialise the textbook at the most economical rate. The relationship is at best only financial in nature and surely not academic. Now, in such a context; if indeed the Shillong based publishers do win the bid, then why not; as it is fair and square. However, putting publishers at the forefront of the entire process of revamping textbooks has undoubtedly raised a plethora of questions; and in the public domain most of them circle around bribery and corruption.
Secondly, the process adopted beats all manner and effort of understanding the issue. There is a term which we all are familiar with. It is called ‘research and development’. Development cannot come before research. Research is primary. Now, when it comes to writing a manuscript; it is a matter of research. Here comes the primary and the most important role of a teacher. Teachers write manuscripts and not publishers. As such, the board should not involve teachers only as reviewers; rather earnestly and wholeheartedly involve them as writers on the various subject matters. Hence, the best and most logical approach that should have been adopted was to judiciously select experienced-senior teachers and involve them in writing the manuscripts across all subjects. This would have produced far meaningful and better results. This is the hallmark of research. After that we can move on to development, which is where the publisher’s role comes in. Publishers develop and commercialise. This completes the logical cycle of research and development. However, currently our Board is giving more importance to the development aspect (which is secondary and subservient to research). This is a sad plight to find ourselves in!
Thirdly, this textbook issue seems inverted throughout. Any effort concerning writing of books of any form and kind is actually a long-term matter. The time consumed will run into months and years together. That we have completed the entire process in months is baffling. Now, even if the matter is argued on the basis of the review of manuscripts alone, that they were reviewed so hastily is again a question. This is what happens when we get the process of research and development wrong. The fact is, a textbook represents and reflects upon the learning and knowledge of a student. Hence, utmost care must be exercised while framing a manuscript. It would have been far better if our board could have taken a longer-deeper thought on this initiative and through following a logical and time-tested process.
As such, we may not start with the new textbooks in 2018; but rather 2019. In addition, the issue of pricing is important, but so is the quality of the papers used in printing and binding. The important thing is to make our textbooks attractive and colourful. This is because studies have shown that the quality of paper, the colours, the pictures, the fonts, the aesthetics and so forth do have an impact on the learning interest and information reception of a child. This should be one of the critical factors for selecting a publisher. Yes, in this case the textbooks will be dearer. However, in a situation where the government has increased the salary of employees handsomely; why not further subsidise textbooks as well?
Fourthly, I agree with the Letter to The Editor (ST dated 11th November, 2017) by A. Lyngdoh titled ‘MBOSE syllabus revamp!’ and I believe this is a view shared by many in the teaching fraternity and across stakeholders. NCERT textbooks are already there. Further and with due respects to our Board, we must accept that NCERT textbooks are far better than our textbooks. In such a case, why not explore the possibilities of using these readily available resources in our education system. Things will be far better then. The Board can retain its present structure and organizational design. It can retain its current process and procedures of administering work. Let everything remain as it is in terms of structure and operations, but let us look at the possibility of using NCERT textbooks earnestly. However, in a case where this is not possible for want of will or desire or otherwise, we can involve our very own teachers to devise manuscripts in line with the NCERT model. Our teachers are more than capable of doing it. Importantly, the real catch here is this; in addition to knowledge, the marking system will also change thereby making our students at par with the national mainstream.
Lastly, why are the pressure groups like KSU, FKJGP, HYC and so forth so silent? This is a student matter, your matter; so speak up and take action. Talk to the government, file an RTI, discuss and if need be, protest. At least contribute towards this issue and its possible course correction. Studentship is the real citizenship. More so, school education is everything! It is the bedrock of education. At the college and university levels only value addition happens. The real substance of a student-citizen is formed and shaped at the school. That is why school teachers are the most valuable and most critical of all the teachers in the teaching fraternity. However, they will fail in their roles if they are not given the correct means and assets. Hence, this issue of MBOSE and its textbooks is current and critical and it will shape the next generation of citizens of our state. Thus, to start with let us give them what they deserve; proper and excellent textbooks!
(The Author teaches at NEHU)
Benjamin Lyngdoh
NEHU Campus
Shillong – 793022