Project work builds confidence
T he proposal by the state board is a good one, since interactive evaluation is better than having unit tests throughout the academic year. We have to move away from rote learning to practical application of knowledge. If students are evaluated on projects, essays, quizzes then it will lead to a stimulation of theirthought process. They won’t have to depend on memorising. Teachers and instructors have to come up with ways to move away from learning through textbooks and guides. Also, it will reduce stress, since an element of fun will be added and it will open the mind of students; thus, resulting in better learning. Today, students have a perception that accomplishment in classroom means success in life. This attitude needs to change and students need to stop running behind marks. Interactive sessions like quizzes, teamwork in projects will help build confidence and better attitude among children.
Lina Ashar, educationist
Only evaluate smaller batches
The proposal is interesting and will be good for children since learning will become more interactive. But, I have some apprehensions on how it will be implemented. For instance, today most schools have around 80 students in a classroom. Therefore, the teacher-student relation is poor, hence unit tests become a good way to evaluate students. However, in a small classroom of about 40-50 students, interactive learning can be more effective. The new innovative methods of testing students’ knowledge through essays, quizzes or even projects will reduce stress and also help students to score well. It will also deter students from memorising concepts. However, some students have poor communication and inter-personal skills, but can write well, such students may be left behind. A good structured system is needed, if we want this proposal to work well.
Sangeeta Shrivastava, principal, SVPV Vidyalaya
Science and grammar need to be tested
The move is good. But it is important to assess if students understand the concept. For instance, mathematics, science and grammar are complex and have basic formulas and methods, which need to be tested. Otherwise how will a child progress. Therefore, some objective test has to be there so that teachers can judge that the students have understood the concept. Essays and quizzes are fine since they will be held in the classroom. As far as projects are concerned, students may take the help of peers or tutors or the internet. Therefore, to give fair evaluation to students, one needs tests. Having quizzes, project work and oral exams may reduce some stress, but it’s important to make studies more interesting for children.
Dhwani Mehta, mother of class III and VI students
Focus must be on reducing the curriculum
Exams have their merits and demerits. For instance, because of continuous examinations throughout the year, students are always under stress and there is pressure to perform. But if a student doesn’t do well in one exam, the individual can always gear up for the next exam. Therefore, it will be hard to pass a judgement. Instead, the focus should be on reducing syllabus, otherwise howcan students assimilate so much knowledge in a small amount of time? Also, today children are dependent on private tuitions because teachers are unable to give them individual attention. We need a system wherein children with average merit are freed from crutches of coaching classes.
Atul Mathuria, father of class V student
Periodic tests help students in the long run
I agree that new innovative methods that the state government is planning should be introduced. Learning will be easy and interesting with quizzes and projects. But at the same time, I don’t think that we should make the unit tests optional. This is because today children study only when the exams are approaching. So in a way, these exams help keep a tab and track a student’s progress. Just having final exams may prove to be more taxing for many students. Also, there is too much pressure regarding marks these days, so I think we should have a grading system in place. This won’t put much stress, but will also have them studying regularly.
Vipul Bhavsar, father of class VII student
It will dilute the seriousness of schooling
There must be more consideration given to this plan. Unit tests play an important role in an academic routine. If such a step is taken, schools will lose all seriousness. Quizzes, essays and projects are add-on elements to one’s schooling. It can't beat the traditional way of schooling. Although, stress levels will be reduced, but producing better learning should be given more emphasis. Let's have projects work along with unit tests. Some pupils are good in cracking tests, while some others are better in project work. We need both to produce better erudition. Schools should judge a child and rank them on overall development. Tests also check how attentive a student is in class.
Kalpika Aggarwal, mother of class II student
Now, we can devote time for hobbies, interests
Of course, I will be glad if I have enough time to pursue my hobbies and interests. I enjoy academics and my favourite subject is English, but we don’t need exams every quarter. I think we should just be allowed to give the final exams. This will ensure that, we spend time in other extracurricular activities and hobbies and not just studies, throughout the academic year. I enjoy making creative projects and doing craft and drawing as well. Sometimes because of the school homework and exams we don’t get time for things that we enjoy like dancing, swimming or painting. At least till class V or VII think we have a different form of evaluation.
Aashi Redkar, class II, Villa Theresa School
Units tests are like revising course content
I’m happy with the system of unit tests that are prevalent currently, in this academic year. Studying a particular syllabus at a time is better than doing the whole quota in one shot. It is because of the periodic examinations currently that I’m able to recollect the concepts well. The examinations act as a revision of course content, if we conduct oral tests or essays, I think students may lose inclination to study. I think just having final exams will put a lot of burden and stress at the end of the term or academic year. We can score well in unit tests and these marks will be reflected in the final report card, so I think we should have periodic exams.Fiona Noronha, Class VI, St Anne’s High School
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