Half-baked implementation will not improve quality, C.Ve. Shanmugam tells CPI (M) leaders
Samacheer Kalvi (Equitable Standard School Education) will not be abandoned by the government, C.Ve. Shanmugam, Minister for School Education Minister, has said.
In an interaction with Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders and Students Federation of India representatives, Mr. Shanmugam assured them that Samacheer Kalvi would most certainly implemented by the government; there was no question of abandoning it.
According to the Cabinet decision, half-baked implementation would not improve quality of the education and, therefore, it was decided to introduce the system based on recommendations from the expert committee (to be constituted), he said.
The minister's assurance was given to the team, including CPI (M) legislator A. Soundararajan, State Committee member Arumuga Nayinar and SFI representatives Stalin, Kanagaraj, K. Rajmohan and Kumar.
The CPI (M) representatives called on the Minister after the newly sworn in Cabinet's decision not to implement equitable standard school education temporarily created apprehensions among students, parents and academics.
Mr. Soundararajan asked the Minister to fix the fee in schools to ensure affordability to even poor people and set a time-frame for introducing Samacheer Kalvi.
The SFI submitted a petition demanding proper implementation of Right to Education and for issuance of community certificates and facilities for registering in employment exchanges in schools itself.
Mr. Shanmugam told them that he assumed office only a week ago and assured them that the government would take necessary steps in all issues pertaining to school education.
Keywords: Samacheer Kalvi, syllabus controversy
I am a 28-year-old female working in a private concern. My daughter has stepped this year her Pre-k.g. I am more worried about the samacheer Kalvi because I have gone through the 6th standard samacheer kalvi books. I feel that there wasn't enough stuff, standard, or
quality, where the children can't gain knowledge. It was like just a reading book. Samacheer kalvi is a good idea, but I agree with this statement that "Need standard in the education system to gain more knowledge, not to reduce the knowledge. Reducing the standard will not help our state and the future eneration.
I am retired person and also an RTI activist. I sought information from the primary, secondary, high schools and higher secondary schools teachers where they educated their wards. Shockingly the accumulated data over eighteen months indicated that nearly 90% of the teachers working in Govt. Schools sent their children to private matriculation schools only.
Govt. teachers in Tamilnadu are paid the best salaries and they have no confidence in the teaching at government schools. When they shun the schools where they and their fellow teachers are employed why the Govt pay them so much salaries and other perks? Dishonest behavior and unethical practices and they stand as the worst role models to the children of impressionable age. No wonder we are one of the most corrupted nation. Hypocrisy must be exposed and in spite of taking this issue with the education department, they say so far there is no service rule where to educate the teachers' wards. For academic interest you can also read Tamilnadu Information Commission's case no 2977 of 12/08/2010 where CEO, Kancheepuram is admonished (www.tnsic.gov.in/judgements/pdfs/2977.pdf)
In today's world, children hardly enjoy the childhood of yesterday. No visit to shopping malls, theatres, amusement park etc., would replicate the good old childhood days, where children met and participated in events like swing, pallankuzhi, traditional games etc. They also met their relatives and such childhood memories are evergreen and forever. Today's conditioning is towards materialistic progress in terms of advancement of science and technology. Right from sixth standard, foundation courses are available for IIT etc. We as a society cannot step out of the order of today, as an income of Rupees Five lakhs plus per annum is common and the student is getting oriented right from the plus two days or even before that. Therefore, the concept of any common syllabus, equality, standardisation etc., should bear in mind the factors,wherein, Tamil Nadu has made steady progress in education and is way ahead even than Kerala and other states. Therefore, the existing syllabus should be constantly updated to cater to the needs of the industry and other sectors which would be benefited by well educated students at a later date. Why, the comments at the beginning sounded different is due to the fact that the student (child) of today may not enjoy the childhood and its rich benefits as the syllabus and its peripherals has changed the way a child lived in the yesteryears. As already pointed out, we cannot afford to change that now. Hope the point is understood.
Swamy
As a parent of children going to Matriculation schools, i had seen the syllabus and the new books for class V. Definitely the quality of content for English, Science and Social studies need improvement. So i was worried about the samacheer kalvi implementation and now I feel relaxed by the Govt’s stand on the topic.
Last year, Parents and teachers of I and VI stds also had thought that the standard was less.
May be many were not forthcoming to express their opinion openly. My feedback -
1. The new expert committee suggested by the present govt. should compare the quality of content of new syllabus and books against the CBSE and ICSE and improve the standards. This will avoid parents moving their wards to CBSE schools.
2. The exam pattern is to be changed to test the application of knowledge and not just the presentation techniques.
3. New teacher appointment, training for the teachers and infrastructure are to be properly planned before the implementation.
Please go thru the IIT entrance results and please read what the Tamilnadu children who are part of top 100 say about schooling. Some of them have moved from Matriculation schools to CBSE schools.
This will make us understand the importance of standard in the education system. Reducing the standard will not help our state and the future generation.
At the same time, the printed books should NOT be wasted. There should be NO second opinion on this.
1. After the necessary analysis, the govt should print additional supplementary books and distribute both the books or alternatively, till the supplementary books are decided upon for the other board schools,ask the govt schools to use the new printed books if the school faculty and the parents feel they are of good quality.
2. The govt should plan for additional infrastructure, appointment of good / qualified teachers and training for the teachers for the Govt schools.
The govt should act fast and appoint the expert committee quickly to evaluate the syllabus and the books –
1. This committee should have representation from parents , teachers, principals and forward thinking educationists. Even CBSE / ICSE school principals also can be part of this committee.
2. Education sector should be given priority in the budget.
3. Private companies ( IT/Manufacturing groups) can be given tax benefits if they adapt govt schools.
There is no forum to get the opinions on this topic in a collective manner. Pallikalvi.in and Samacheerkalvi.in can be used to get the feedback from Parents/teachers.
Media should publicise these sites for the purposes.Govt can use the feedback from these sites.
The media can publish objective online surveys and share the data to the govt / school directorate / high court.
OK, now your are going to print out all old syllabus books within 15 days and it is going to be full baked is it so...? Consider the goodness of the students community rather than doing anything on ego. We have chosen you not to change the good things of the previous government but to bring changes in the lives of us towards prosperity through good governess.
Please Email the Editor