A Progressive Syllabus

The post electoral debate on the implementation of the “statewide uniform syllabus” for schools has come to a positive end. From now on, all the students in the state, excepting the ones studying in IB, ICSE and CBSE schools, will study a common syllabus. This is a good and progressive sign.  I personally vouch for the idea of uniform syllabus and wish that in the near future, we should be able to have a “nationwide uniform syllabus”.  Ever since my visit to Finland in 2006, where I was oriented to the benefits of pursuing a common syllabus, I was fascinated by the idea and was wishfully hoping that it comes to our country soon. To me, it is a dream come true.

There has been mixed responses from parents on this new syllabus. Some say the new sylabbus is excellent and some say it is sub standard. Is it really sub standard or is it just a borrowed perception, is a big question mark.  There is also an apprehension among parents, whether their children will be able to cope up with the new syllabus. I think it is not the problem of the student rather it is the responsibilty of the teacher. It does not matter how easy or tough the new syllabus is. What matters more is, how good is the teacher in delivering the content to the student. I again wish to draw the example of Finland.  Finland ranks No: 1, in the world in the quality of education. It is not just because, education has been their nation’s priority, but even more because of the quality of its teachers. In Finland, the job of a teacher is considered as one of the most respectable one, because the teacher takes an active part in the child’s progress. They are so involved, committed and take personal responsibilty for the student to learn, understand and enjoy his studies.

So, what does a common syllabus mean to our children’s future? What are its advantages? 

A common syllabus means each student of the state willl pursue a equal standard of education and qualify on a equal platform. Before, we had a State Board, Anglo Indian Board and Matriculation Board. The quality of education, were of different levels in each board and it was difficult to compare the grade of Std X student of a State board school, with another student from a Matriculation board school.

The newly introduced common syllabus serves as an education leveller, which means a student studying Xth Std in one school will have the same knowledge as any other student in the state, who is studying Xth Std. So when you say, someone is an Xth Std Student, you are able to guage his knowledge level, instanty. You don’t have to ask a second question, from which board, to ascertain the credibility.

The second advantage is migration from one school to another school becomes easy. You don’t have to be bothered about the availabilty of a same type of schooling board, when you get transferred from one place to another place, within the state.

The third and most important advantage is the confidence level of the student. He does not need to feel inferior to anyone in terms of education.

In the days to come, we are not just looking at making our children competitive at the statelevel, or national level, we are trying to make them competitive in the global level. Therefore holding on to baseless dogmatic principles, does not help. It is time to move on.

In the school my children study, students from Std III to Std XII, are given an opportunity to take a, “International Assesment for Indian Schools” administered by University of New South Wales, Australia. The student can take this objective type assesment test on four subjects namely Science, Maths, English and Computer Skills.  By taking this test, the students is graded and ranked on the National level.  I encourage my children to take this test, so that they can be aware of where they stand at a National  level.  A similar test is administed by www.assetonline.in

The challenge that lies before is not, how to make life easy for our children, but it is about how to make them competitive enough to thrive in the global playing field. 

Happy Reading,

D. Senthil Kannan

Article dated Oct'11