PISA
(Program for International Students Assessment) is an international study that
was launched by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development) in 1997. It aims to evaluate education systems worldwide every 3
years by assessing 15 year old students in the key subjects of science,
mathematics and reading.
The
PISA results were recently out and it was shocking to see India landing on the
2nd last position among 73 countries that participated. However, it
wasn’t shocking to those whose children go to the Indian schools. It was told
that the results are not a reflection of Indian’s poor state of schooling.
Instead the failure has been certified to a cultural disconnect between the
questions and Indian students.
This
shows the quality of education that is provided to the students in India.
Schools are strictly controlled in such a way that the students score high
marks in examinations. In fact they study for only exams and not to develop
themselves, to think or to analyse. The fact is that the quality and quantity
of education in India is pathetic. Never ever is there any focus on practical
learning. Whereas, science is all about learning theories, with there being no
facility to visit science centres to see the theories work in practise. Not
only this but the evaluation of marks for certain subjects and the quantity of
syllabus included for certain marks are not proportional.
This
incident should be considered as an eye opener. Our Indian Constitution talks
of the fundamental Right of Education to every Indian. The government should
look into improvising the educational standards. If merely being able to write
one’s own name makes one literate, then that’s not going to be enough in this
rising world.
No comments:
Post a Comment