Teaching not an index for learning: Balasubramanian
New Delhi | Sunday, Nov 22 2009 IST
 

Stressing that ''teaching is not an index for a childs learning'', former Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Academics Director G Balasubramanian said a change in evaluation and assessment techniques was the need of the hour.

Addressing teachers from various schools of Delhi at an event organized by Pearson Education Group yesterday, Balasubramanian said, ''Whatever method of assessment we employ, our curriculum framework and pedagogy should be correct because the assessment will vary according to these parameters.'' He cited examples of personalities like blindfolded chess champion Michael Najdorf and child prodigy and one of the worlds youngest scientists Thathagat Tulsi, who obtained a Ph.D from the Indian Institute of Science earlier this year at the age of 21, to drive home the point that the entire concept and system of examinations could be well challenged.

He said, ''Two children never learn the same subject in the same way. Then, how can we evaluate them with a common yardstick?''. Narrating the ill effects of rote learning and the burden of tuitions, Mr Balasubramanian added, ''Today, we need experience-based learning in institutions and need to encourage self-assessment amongst students because a teachers assessment does not certify the intelligence or dullness of child.'' Praising the CBSEs move to introduce the grading system and do away with the pressure associated with board examinations, the former Director believed this move had helped to scrap failures from the list of school results which made the students feel positive about themselves.

Quoting Winston Churchill who said he was always ready to learn but did not always like to be taught, the academician also said, '' Dont look at CBSE as a body of examinations, look at it as an institution.'' He urged teachers to identify the multiple intelligences present in a class and try their best to pay individual attention to each student despite the dismal student-teacher ratio in schools of our country.

Earlier, Vivek Govil, CEO and president, Pearson Education India, introduced teacher-friendly softwares and tech-savy evaluation and assessment techniques to make both teaching and learning more student friendly.

-- (UNI) -- 22DI8.xml

 

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