Editor,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw your attention to the current situation of the education system in our State, which has increasingly become a matter of concern for teachers, students and parents alike. Furthermore related with this year’s development and as students will be sitting for their Annual/Promotion Examinations
It may be mentioned that during the ongoing academic session, a revised syllabus for class VI – IX was published and it was announced that questions for the annual examination for Classes 6 to 9 would be set externally by the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT), following a new question pattern. Then by October, another notification stated that questions for subjects such as Health Education, Information & Technology, and Tourism however could be set by respective schools.
On October 28, a notification came from the Director of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) detailing procedures for the external question papers, which would be distributed in soft copy from the Directorate to DSEOs, then to all schools for printing. Schools, many of which lack proper printing facilities, are expected to maintain strict secrecy while collecting and printing these papers – a highly impractical expectation.
Adding further confusion, another notification on November 4, from the Commissioner and Secretary of Education, Government of Meghalaya informed that Mission Schools need not follow these external question papers. This raises several questions regarding uniformity and fairness in evaluation.
Earlier in January this year, the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) issued a rationalisation of chapters for Social Science and English in Classes 9 and 10. When viewed collectively, these repeated notifications appear inconsistent, uncoordinated and unclear.
With all these developments, I feel compelled to raise the following questions on behalf of teachers, students and parents:
1. Which authority is responsible for syllabus framing, textbook content, examination patterns and question paper setting? Is it DERT, MBOSE, DSEL, the Commissioner and Secretary? To whom are Schools, teachers, students and the public supposed to address academic queries?
2. Why not allow teachers to set question papers while following the standard pattern provided by the concerned authorities? Teachers understand classroom realities, student capabilities, methods of teaching-learning, evaluation process (since there is no uniform evaluation procedure provided by the authorities) and the actual teaching-learning context better than any external agency. It may be mentioned that only question papers are to be set externally, however evaluation has to be done by individual schools. All these defeat the purpose of standardisation.
3. Why are only a few subjects selected for external question setting, leaving others to schools? This creates inconsistency and confusion.
4. Distributing question papers in soft copy is risky and impractical, especially for rural schools without printing facilities, not to mention the limited time frame very close to the date of Examination scheduled. Maintaining secrecy in such conditions is nearly impossible.
5. Why are Mission Schools exempted from following externally set question papers? Are they not under the same board and evaluation framework?
6. It may be mentioned that Meghalaya still lacks a State School Curriculum Framework, which has resulted in fragmented and aimless educational reforms. Outdated syllabus and textbooks are merely rearranged rather than thoughtfully revised with purpose and vision.
All these changes and directives, issued frequently and without clarity, are causing confusion at every level – from administration to the classroom.
Recently, a senior and experienced teacher highlighted in a media outlet the presence of many incorrect answers in the CM-impact guide book published under the Chief Minister’s Educational Programme, particularly in Economics. I wish to state that I too have personally come across similar inaccuracies in the same guide book, not only in Economics but also in other subjects. Such errors mislead students, confuse teachers and lower the academic credibility of the State’s educational initiatives. Furthermore, the Social Science textbooks currently in use contain several outdated facts, figures and examples, some dating as far back as 2002–2003. Such outdated content hinders meaningful learning and defeats the purpose of effective education. I also have personal disagreement with the best of 5 subjects’ evaluation in the SSLC examination where students may fail in 2 subjects (such as Social Science, Mathematics or Science) and still pass the exams. This undermines the foundation and knowledge provided by these subjects and further lowers the level of learning among students which also makes it difficult for teachers to promote interest in the classrooms.
A State once celebrated as the educational hub of the North Eastern region now struggles at the bottom of national education rankings. This is deeply concerning.
We sincerely hope that the Government and concerned educational bodies will take meaningful steps to establish a clear, unified, deliberate and goal-oriented educational framework. Our children deserve a learning environment that is stable, progressive, up-to-date and at par with the rest of the country.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
Blinkit occupying public footpath
Editor,
I am writing this letter through your esteemed publication to highlight the absence of public space in the Fire Brigade junction leading to Motinagar where the very busy-bee line-up of Blinkit delivery boys is a sight to behold. Last Sunday while going out for an evening walk, I was trying to make my way through the footpath( as a pedestrian that’s what we’re supposed to do) but guess what happened. I was trapped by the dozens of scooties stationed right on the footpath, ready to take off at a moment’s notice. I therefore had no choice but to walk on the main road at great risk to my life. Being a busy Sunday, I just missed getting hit by a car because I had to take much of the outer road to pass through that particular lane. I am a daily commuter and pedestrian, so if one has to walk on the road all the time just to avoid the Blinkit delivery parked scooties, who will ensure that next time I don’t get hit by a speeding vehicle? In writing this I am not against Blinkit which is creating job opportunities for the youth but as a pedestrian I equally have the right to use the footpath and not just the delivery boys.
Yours etc.,
Gracefulness Rymmai,
Via email
