What’s the article is about?
The article talks about post-pandemic school education and measures for better and holistic education.
Syllabus: GS2, Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources.
Data
- Out of 265 million children, the vast majority have barely set foot in the classroom for the past 2yrs.
- There are 1 million government schools and five million government teachers in India.
Challenges in School Education.
- Minimal Impact by e-content: As less than 12% of government schools have an internet connection and 24% of families have smartphone access.
- Rote-learning: Due to misplaced focus on rote learning, many children even after 8yrs of schooling, struggle with basic reading, writing and lack arithmetic skills.
- Lack of accountability and mismanagement in government schools.
- Perception of bad quality of education in govt. Schools have led parents to resort to joining students in private schools.
- Children from low-income families acquire complex and nuanced learning from their experiences and environment.
Measures
- Revision and Support program: Govt. Schools must institutionalize welcome programs to bridge learning gaps.
- Resolve fundamental systemic issues of weak learning and unimaginative curriculum. By focusing on art, music, and sports along with the normal curriculum.
- School education should go beyond merely monitoring numbers and encompass management, mid-day meals, etc.
- Meaning full learning: School education departments work closely with teachers and shift from the rigid curriculum.
- Autonomy: Teachers should be given greater autonomy inside classrooms and provided training to teachers.
- Recommendations of Paulo Freire and book Pedagogy of the oppressed.
- Liberating educators: That helps children, to build on their own knowledge and understanding.
- Incorporate strong local elements within a common curriculum framework.
- Teachers need space for creativity and a freer classroom environment.
- Perception of poor quality: Implementing measures like providing equal equipment and improved exam performance as done in states like Kerala and Delhi.
- Dedicated cadre for necessary academic management and supervision of school governance.
- Ensuring women's safety in the school for both teachers and students to increase women's participation.
India containing the youth population, education plays a crucial role for next generations and to reap benefits of demographic dividend.
