Alternative Education Path for interesting, creative, participative, non-imposing approach

By Bharat Dogra
An alternative education path (ATP) which is well integrated with the creation of a better and safer world is presented here.
One part of ATP can be called Core 1 and the essence of this remains the same from the beginning of school education to post-graduation, although of course the learning is different for various classes and age-groups. This core 1 is concerned with the teaching of certain universal values such as peace, non-violence, justice, protection of all forms of life and environment, attitude of caring and co-operation towards all human beings, non-discrimination, equality, gender equality, social harmony etc. Various aspects of these universal issues are learned in various classes so as to gain a comprehensive view of universal values by class five (approximately the first half of school education). Then this is taken to an advanced level in higher school, and then to college in various interesting and meaningful ways. This is to be considered the most important part of education which is also well integrated with other parts. Core 1 should be integrated at advanced levels increasingly with solutions to most pressing problems facing humanity.
Core 2 consists at school level of three compulsory subjects—Two languages and their literature, science with human health and basic math and thirdly, social studies and humanities. The basics of all these three subjects are to be emphasized in interesting ways and at the same time, at more advanced levels, these are to be linked in very creative ways with core 1 as well with various problems facing humanity.
Component 3 consists of non-compulsory subjects from which students can make a choice according to their special interests. These subjects can include a third language, advanced math, drawing and crafts, sports, social service, applied democracy, dance, music, theatre, cinema and videos, radio, photography, debating and writing skills, tracking, thoughtful walks etc. Care should be taken not to burden students with too many subjects and non-compulsory should be treated as truly non-compulsory without anything being imposed on students. If a student is not particularly interested in competitive sports, for example, and would instead prefer to take a long walk in the school for exercise, he or she should be perfectly free to do so, with the option of changing midway also available.
In all aspects of education, the approach should be interesting, creative, participative, reflective, thoughtful and non-imposing, avoiding stress, imposition and tensions of any kind, allowing students to learn at their own pace and in their own ways, with adequate space being provided also for learning from each other. Exams can be held once a year without making them too competitive or tense, along with some routine periodic tests. Those who fail to meet certain minimum norms at the end of the academic year have to attend a one month revision course in which those who have passed can also join, and those who have done exceptionally well are encouraged to join as voluntary teachers, helpers and guides for students who have not done very well, all in a spirit of help and cooperation. After the end of this revision course, all are promoted to the next class. There is a board exam only at the end of school with two chances given with a gap of a month. Those who fail also get a school completion certificate, but if they want to repeat they are welcome to do so.
In the last class of school there is an additional subject called future options in which student get enough time to think and plan for their future over a period of almost an entire academic year while at the same time receiving the guidance of their teachers.
Post-school education does not start immediately. Students have about 9 or 10 months partly to think and reflect, partly to take up some independent group activity with friends, partly to give various entrance exams. These entrance exams are not just centralized national level exams but also exams at state and perhaps even district levels keeping in view local needs and opportunities, giving students more opportunities to study and prepare to work as doctors or nurses or engineers or teachers or entrepreneurs within their own communities or remaining very close to them.
The responsibility of providing good quality, well-equipped education at all levels with adequate budgeting and community support should be accepted by the government, with the private and philanthropic sectors free to make their contribution to education at various levels, accepting some essential government regulation (without trying to dominate the education sector and influence the government administered education system adversely), using their own resources.
Financial burden on students should be very low, and in any case there should be adequate scholarships to make education accessible to all at all levels.
---
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include ‘Protecting Earth for Children’, ‘Planet in Peril’ and ‘A Day in 2071’

Comments

Eight years of empowering tribal communities through water initiatives in Chhattisgarh

By Gazala Paul* In the heart of Chhattisgarh, amidst the echoes of tribal life, a transformative journey has unfolded over the past eight years. The Samerth organization has diligently worked to elevate the lives of indigenous communities in the Kawardha district through the project, "Enabling Baiga Community to access safe drinking water."

Regretful: Kapil Dev retired not leaving Indian cricket with integrity he upheld

By Harsh Thakor Kapil Dev scaled heights as an entertainer and a player upholding the spirit of the game almost unparalleled in his era. In his time he was cricket’s ultimate mascot of sportsmanship On his day Kapil could dazzle in all departments to turn the tempo of game in the manner of a Tsunami breaking in. He radiated r energy, at a level rarely scaled in his era on a cricket field. Few ever blended aggression with artistry so comprehenisively. Although fast medium, he could be as daunting with the ball as the very best, with his crafty outswinger, offcutter, slower ball and ball that kicked from a good length. Inspite of bowling on docile tracks on the subcontinent, Kapil had 434 scalps, with virtually no assistance. I can never forget how he obtained pace and movement on flat pancakes, trapping the great Vivian Richards in Front or getting Geoff Boycott or Zaheer Abbas caught behind. No paceman carried the workload of his team’s bowling attack on his shoulders in his eras muc

Martin Crowe played instrumental role in making New Zealand a force in world cricket

By Harsh Thakor* Late Martin Crowe was the perfect manifestation of how mere figures could not convey or do justice to the true merit of a batsman. Crowe was arguably the most complete or majestic batsmen of his era or the ultimate embodiment of batting perfection, or the classical batsmen. He perished 7 years ago, due to a rare and aggressive form of cancer, follicular lymphoma, which originated in 2012. In September, we celebrated his 60th birthday but sadly he left for his heavenly abode.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

Towards 2024: Time for ‘We the People of India’ to wake up before it is too late

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India!

1982-83 Bombay textile strike played major role in shaping working class movement

By Harsh Thakor On January 18th, 1982 the working class movement commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Textile Workers Strike that lasted for 18 months, till July 1983. It was landmark event that played a major role in shaping the working class movement. With more than 2.5 lakh workers from 65 textile mills joining in this strike for almost two years, this strike became one of the most significant strikes in terms of scale and duration All democrats should applaud the mill workers’ united battle, and their unflinching resilience an death defying courage continues to serve as a model for contemporary working-class movements. Many middle class persons harboured opinions that the Textile workers were pampered or were a labour aristocracy, ignorant of how they were denied wages to provide for basic necessities. The Great Bombay Textile Strike is notably one of the most defining movements in the working class struggles in Post-independent India. Bombay’s textile industry flourished in

Ceasefire a tactical victory for Palestinian resistance, protests intensify across globe

By Harsh Thakor* The Zionist leadership and Netanyahu’s government were compelled to concede the defeat of their first attempt after almost 50 days of daily fighting in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu was forced to concede that he was unsuccessful in suppressing the Palestinian Resistance; and that the release of the prisoners was only plausible because they accepted Hamas’ terms.

Odisha leadership crisis deepens: CM engages retired babus to oversee depts' work

By Sudhansu R Das Over decades, Odisha has lost much of its crop diversity, fertile agriculture land, water bodies, employment potential, handicraft and handloom skills etc. The state has failed to strike a balance between the urban and rural sector growth; this leads to the migration of villagers to the urban areas leading to collapse of the urban infrastructures and an acute labor shortage in rural areas. A large number of educated, skilled and unskilled Odia people have migrated to other states for higher education, quality jobs and for earning livelihood which plummet the efficiency level of government departments. Utmost transparency in the recruitment and promotion in the state government departments will improve governance mechanisms in the state. "No near and dear one approach" in governance mechanisms can only achieve inclusive growth for the state on payment basis. This is a moral hazard. When so many educated young people seek employment outside the

Massive tropical deforestation: Big finance's $307 billion go to forest-risk commodities

A note on report by Forests & Finance coalition -- Rainforest Action Network, TuK Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Repórter Brasil, BankTrack, Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Friends of the Earth US: *** A new report released on ‘Finance Day’ at COP28 by the Forests & Finance Coalition , provides a comprehensive look into the role big finance plays in driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change and human rights abuses in tropical forest regions. The report reveals that since the Paris Agreement, banks have pumped over $307 billion into high risk forestry and agriculture companies linked to tropical deforestation, proving that the policies of major global banks and investors are failing to prevent continued widespread forest and biodiversity loss.

20% of Indian businesses have no emission plan in place despite climate emergency: Report

By Jag Jivan New research underlines urgent need for strategies and transition plans to combat climate change, remain successful and meet stakeholder expectations.

Search This Blog