Re: Education

[gear@blr.vsnl.net.in]

bdp.india@mailexcite.com wrote:
>
> My suggestion would be to let the state educational bodies define standards.
> There are government bodies who conduct IIT/IIMs/IAS examinations.
> Why can't we create such bodies at the state
> levels to define standards for teaching at primary
> and secondary levels. Such bodies

can perhaps be made non-profit organizations.

Srini: It is a well thought about and laudable idea. Where I think we
should make a careful change is: instead of making such a body a
non-profit organization, which means the maker is a master with a remote
control, there must be a climate of open encouragement of organizations
who can change the phase of testing/examinations and set standards.
Again, different organizations can propose their standards based on
their research. Public can debate the validity of them and adopt to
them. In a country like the USA there a different standards by different
states and there are corporate houses and private bodies like ASCD, NCTM
who have very well researched standards in position and they are
dynamic. This dynamism will be lost if Govt. has to set standards, as is
the case now (most unfortunately). Our curriculum and curriculum
standards are at least 50 years old; and parts of them are just gone
dead!

 They should offer exams as well courses to
> continually train teachers for improvement. They should charge
> indiviuals to appear in such certifications as well charge
> school districts for any future training of employed teachers
> by that school.
>
Srini: In addition to training, there must be a certification and one
that has to be renewed every two years based on actual merit which
should include so many factors of which research, resourcefulness,
respect to students, responsibility and reaching out to students (the 5
R's) form important part. The current system of getting a certificate
once in a life time, occupying a chair and repeating the same blunders
every year till one retires with more authority as time passes is most
ridiculous crime on can be allowed to commit on children!

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