Indian education system is burdening . Do you agree or disagree ? Why ? - Page 1

Dear All,

The education system in India is too burdening on the child.Everyday my son has to carry school bag weighing 5 kgs.He has time table but the teachers don't follow the time table and take periods as per their convenience hence children have to carry almost all books.

The I.C.S.E syllabus is too tough.It is not matching the ability and the age of the child.For my 8 year old son ,he is expected to know much more then his age.I don't understand  why he needs to know more then his age.It is like putting mental pressure on the child so far as academics is concerned.I strongly feel that the education system should cater to the development of an average student and the level of education should match the age and mental ability of  an average child.

My son doesn't  know how to count mentally , he counts using fingers.He doesn't know  how to frame a sentence in correct order  and he is expected to write paragraphs using high level words on his own. I learnt  " Reference to context", Paragraph writing etc in higher classes which is correct because your mind is ready for it. It should not be taught at an age when the young minds are not ready for it.

I don't understand why are we running so much on a fast track when children have not understood the  basic concepts , framing of correct sentences, fluent reading etc.

In Maths word problems my son doesn't approach the problem logically.In the word problem he looks for words like "altogether", "left"  etc.If the word " altogether" is there in the word problem he adds  , if the word " left " is there in the word problem he subtracts.If these words are not there then he is stuck.He doesn't  know how to solve it  and I need to help him. In a day  most of the time is spent in school and after coming from school his time goes in doing homework, and monthly studies for surpirse exams.He has hardly anytime  left to play.

It is very important that we give a strong foundation  at the elementary level itself to children  by making basics very clear to them. In most of the  schools , this part is ignored and they keep running with the  portions irrespective of whether the child has understood it or not ?

Only if the foundation is strong , the children will be able to cope up easily in higher classes  and they can solve any challenging questions too with confidence.

The level of education should be balanced as per the age and mental ability of the child giving enough scope for the holistic development of the child which includes playing also.

So Friends  have you experienced similar problems with your kids .Do share it with us.Kindly pour in your inputs and views on the same.

Let's all make it a healthy discussion.

Regards

Tanujaravi

Hi Tanujaravi

You are correct, way of teaching is conventional though syllabus has got changed. I am a mother of small kid (just 2.5 yrs) and confused in selecting which board I should go for. ICSE is tough, CBSE is just book oriented, state boards are less scoring, then which one !! Actually our education system need a change, which may remove all these states of delimma.

Now I have decided to go for a school which give more emphasis on making a strong base for the kids, coz if base is strong, the pillar will be strong by itself.

You have really touched a nice topic, thanks for that, its in mind of all the parent but sometimes we feel helpless coz most of the schools still follow just old method of teaching.

 tanujaarvi and nkhosla,

you both r correct but icse level is such that the teachers has to follow the system.. in icse they don't have exams.. they have assesment test... they get grades i always see that i sit with my child for atleast 1 hour a day.. with her studies in her school the homework part is given in such a way that the students get half of there study material completed .... so see to it that for 1 hour she has to sit with me.. i have not bothered her with tutions.... bcaz they unnecessary burden the child.... if u have PTA.. IN ur school u can discuss with the association of parents regarding homework given to childrens... they will definately listen to u... and also u have to be sure that ur child does not carry so many books... which loads there bags.. with lots of kilos... so u can directly meet the principal to change the timetable in such a manner.. that students don't have to carry so many books.. in our icse school if any parent face any problem we directly contact the PTA member who directly can talk to principal... so go ahead and make ur childs life fun filled... 

Hi  nkhosla,

Thanks for your  inputs.

 Which school have you decided for your child ? Is it I.C.S.E,C.B.S.E, montessori etc

You are right you should choose a school which gives a strong base to the child.

Kindly let us know.

Regards

Tanuja

Hi Krishna7,

In my son's school though they too have no exams but assessment sheets they are just corrected and  are not graded , nor marks are given.

Right now his assessment sheets are going on.My son is in class 3. They don't give time table for exams , my son doesn't know what exam is going to come today so they have to study  all the subjects and keep themselves updated.During exams there is no holiday given and the school is working full day and also home work is given.

Last year there was only one subject exam per day for assesstment test which is conducted on a monthly basis.It is a surprise test and teacher doesn't reveal which subject exam she is going to take.This year they have 2  subject exams per day.So the exam gets over early because it is boring for the children to study the same thing again and again.

Without time table it becomes difficult to teach so many subjects together that too in  a short span of time but it has its own advantages also.We come to know the real intellectual ability of the child.If the time table is given  parents will send the child for exams fully prepared and a child can easily score very  well.

This year his class teacher takes him 6 subjects , another teacher takes 2 subjects so teachers try to teach the subject as per their schedule and plan hence time table is not followed so children have to carry all books everyday  otherwise they need to copy notes in their rough note book and later copy it again in their classwork book which is double work for the child so my son carries all the books.I  will speak to the class teacher on this matter and see whether anything can be done to reduce their baggage. Last year they did follow the time table.

Krishna is your daughter's exam too conducted in the same way like my son or it differs.

Kindly let me know?

Regards

Tanuja

Hi Tanujaravi

I am thinking of CBSE. Since I have also studied thoughout CBSE, I might help her in studies. Also CBSE syllabus is country wide, if one changes location, then also child can get admission in any good CBSE affiliated schools, I have heard even technical tests like engineening, medical, IIT etc follow CBSE syllabus.

But in Mumbai there are very limited CBSE schools, so still in delimma. Also parent here say CBSE does not help too much in all round development. So I am giving first priority to good education. If school is excellent with good staff and education system , even though not have CBSE, and only ICSE, I will go for it.  I think best way is to talk to parent of the children already there. For me, its exptreely important for my child to have good and strong base, I believe she will never face any difficulties in studies, if she understands what she is studying, and not just galloping for exams. I am not bothered about whether she is topper or not, but her fundas, and concepts should be very strong.

hi tanujaarvi,my daughters school takes assesment test but they duly give the timetable.... they r also too fast but as i told u before ........we have parents teacher association we can directly talk to them regarding the same... u don't go to the class teacher directly first talk to around 6 to 7 parents and meet the pta member of ur class take her with u and meet the teacher with the vice principal or head of the school.. this way u will not communicate on personal level... it will be discussed ingroup... u have to talk to them as u told me they r bothering ur child and even other childrens to such a level that they can't even get time to paly... so please talk to PTA member as early as possible... i am sure if u go in group it makes a difference.... and carrying all the books can also be solve as in my daughters school teacher mentions very clearly everyday in calender which books they have to bring.. as for e.g. in hindi they have so many books essay book. grammer book.. comprehension book.... hindi calss wrok book... home work book... the kids cannot carry all the books for one subjest so u can request teachers to make there timetable in such a way that they don't have to carry all the books... i am sure u will definately find ur way... good luck!!!

HI Krishna

Can you tell in which school your daughter is in Mumbai ? 

Hi  nkhosla,

You are right, choose a school which gives a strong foundation to your child.Even I strongly feel the same .A child should understand the concepts , even I don't mind whether my son scores well or not but I want him to understand the concepts taught.

 Best of luck ..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Tanujaravi

Hi Krishna7,

Thanks for your suggestions..

Just wanted to know how old is your daughter. Which class is she studying.

Even I have not put my son in any classes or tuitions.I myself take his studies at home.

In his school I never heard of any PTA association.Is this association formed by the parents itself ?

My son's school is good  and even the teachers are very co-operative and polite.They do hear us even if you go personally so I never felt the need for PTA association.

Though they  don't give time- table it is for the good of the children only. We come to know the true intellectual ability of the child and I like this about the school.I am very much satisfied with the school. No one is perfect and some imperfections will be there in every school but it is okay.For parents it is difficult to teach without time table but it is true that "No gains without pains".

I will surely talk to his class teacher regarding their heavy baggage and I am sure that she will definately understand  and solve the problem.

Regards

Tanujaravi

hi Tanujaravi..

I  agree with you  100% that ICSE schools are putting lot of pressure on kids.

Only by  PTA, these problems can be solved...

By the way , which schools does your son go?

Rgds,

sarasrl

Dear  Sarasri,

The schools are not at fault.

In my discussion I have clearly stated that The  Indian education system   itself is  burdening and not schools. Especially the I.C.S.E syllabus is the most tough.

I am happy with my son's school. My son goes to SVM School.

Indian education system itself requires a makeover though some makeover is done but it is not sufficient.

Sarasri , let  us know  about  your  child  too.

Before starting this discussion I knew the  term  PTM which is parents teachers meeting. Now I came to know  about the  term PTA. I know the full form but would like to know more about it. Does  every school in Bangalore have PTA? Can anyone in this forum give more info on this.

 I am basically from Mumbai and I have completed my studies in Mumbai  hence not  much aware of the  education system in Bangalore.

Regards

Tanuja

Dear All,

My son is 8 years old and in class 3.

My son counts with fingers for maths, he doesn't know to frame sentences in correct order ,  he doesn't know to interpret a word problem in maths logically. Parents who have children in the same age group kindly let me know  whether most of the kids in the above age group do the same thing or I need to improve my son on the above.

Kindly give your valuable feedback and suggestions.

Regards

Tanuja

Hi Tanuja,

I agree with your point that ICSE syllabus itself is tough. But I hear from this forum, that some ICSE schools like Vidyashilp don't put pressure on kids untill they reach certain grade. They dont even give H.W untill Gr -5.

Rgding PTA : Its like employee union, but here it is composed of school management , teachers and parents. In PTA ,  parental participation is more involved in school activities.

I think only few schools in bangalore follow it as it relatively new.

My kid is in UKG .She is studying in state syllabus.Next year I'm planning to shift to CBSE or ICSE.

I'm staying in north bangalore. I saw in net about  SVM school near New BEL road. Is it same as SVM jayanagar? which SVM does your son go to?

Rgds,

Saraswathy

Hi Tanuja,

I would like to give you my opinion based on what I have seen with my friends' kids and my niece cases.

Kids start to work on word problem right from grade 1 i.e at the age of 6. and in each class the word problems will be a little more complex than what they learnt in the previous class. So find out whether he can do the class 2 problems without any difficulty. If he has difficulty in that then you should start working on that.

In class 3, he should have started to do mental maths. My friend's son who is 9 now was doing mixed fractions, LCM etc last year.

Similarly he should be able to write paragraphs or small essays on his own. My niece started writing simple poems and diary at 8 yrs.  These days schools teach creative writing right from class 1. If you feel your son is lagging behind compared to other kids in his class, please make him repeat class 2. It's just a suggestion. 

All the best.

Hi saraswathy,

My son is in SVM ,Jaynagar.

 I don't  know about SVM School  near BEL road.

I strongly feel  " Little stress " is a must . H.w is  a good thing because it is like revision and a good  practise too . It is rightly said " Practise makes man perfect " and writing helps to recall what has been learnt, faster.So every  school must give minimum H.W.

My son's school  H.W  is minimum. Right  now I don't feel there is overload of H.W and moreover for I.C.S.E syllabus they need to give this much H.W at least for their age.

Thanks a lot for the info on PTA.

Regards

Tanujaravi

Dear Roshmom,

Thanks a lot for the feedback. I will definately work on the suggestions given by you.

 My son has PDD inspite of  that he is doing I.C.S.E syllabus pretty well. He is not the best but he is better then few other kids in his class. His scores are not very high or outstanding or excellent but  for the last 2 years he has scored between 80-90% which is really good. I am not bothered about whether he scores well or not  I only   want my son to learn and understand what has been taught. I am really proud of him. I will definately  work on things that he is lagging behind.

He does lot of spelling mistakes too.Can any one tell me does this happen with other 8 year kids too?

Regards

Tanujaravi

Dear All,

I was fortunate to attend  "Social Thinking Workshop"  by Michelle Garcia Winner held in Bglr on 12th and 13th August 2011.

Our children lack social skills.My son has a major problem in this hence I attended the workshop.

Though it was very expensive it was worth it.

Social Thinking is  a very critical factor in holistic development of an individual.

Michelle has given a new approach on Social Thinking  through years of her research and  hands on experience working  with socially challenged people of all age group.Social Thinking is a critical factor that extends to all walks of life including academics.

Social thinking is not   just  about communication or conversing it is thinking with your eyes, understanding  from other peoples perspective etc.For us the social skills come naturally but for socially challenged people their brain does not make it easy for them to understand other people thoughts and emotions.

Kindly go through the below link to get more detailed information on the same:-

www.socialthinking.com

Regards

Tanujaravi

 my son carries 10 kg bag daily he has to climb 5th floor of his ICSE school.

They have 2-3 books per subject English course book, workbook, rough book and notebook.

COntinous assessements alongwith second term and final exams. Its exhausting.

There is lot of H.W and he goes to tuition and comes back with headache.

His daily schedule 6 of clock he gets up goes to school for sports coaching. Runs, climbs stairs and at 8 school starts. 3 of clock he reaches home heads to tution at 4 and returns home around 6.30

At night he as to complete the H.W scorching with headache he barely able to complete the H.W

 Namaste,

OMG. That's not fair.whers s the childhood???

Namaste,

       It's really shocking.. which school is this? which class ur child is in?