Producing mark scoring machines : Schools need to do more than this
- Sangai Express Editorial :: May 28, 2013 -

It seems to be raining marks in some of the select schools of Manipur, if the results of the recently announced Class X and Class XII examinations are anything to go by. Impressive is the word that comes to mind.

In direct proportion with the impressive performances that have been dished out, is now the race to get as much mileage as possible. Gilt edged competition or crass commercialisation ?

Clearly the understanding of education has undergone drastic changes in the last decade or so.

Whether this is healthy or not is something only the future can tell, at that point of time when the youngsters come of age to take their rightful place in society in different capacities.

This however should not mean that no meaningful discourse should be held on the direction in which the understanding of education seems to be headed.

A question that needs a serious deliberation is whether the quality of educational institutions should be judged solely on the performance of its students in the Board’s examinations, whether at the Class X or Class XII level.

Brings to mind one pearl of a statement made by a former Principal of St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, the late Anil Wilson, “Classes get over by 2 pm and college begins.”

Clearly a line of thought which needs to be reflected upon seriously in the face of the seeming race amongst educational institutions in Manipur trumping the performances of their students in the Class X and Class XII examinations.

Marks are no doubt important, but when this overshadows every other aspects of education then it is not such a comfortable thought.

That educationists need to look beyond the marks scored in the examinations may be a truism that needs special and sincere deliberations.

After all educational institutions are not manufacturing factories where the students should stand in the assembly line for the final product to emerge.

A need to draw the line between schools and colleges and the coaching centres may be line here.

A coaching centre is no doubt an educational institution imparting training and conducting special classes to groom the young students to go in for their line of career but when schools and colleges start to follow their line of marketing then it is a bit worrying. This is what seems to be happening in Manipur today.

Scoring high marks and doing well in the examination is always an achievement, something to be proud of. But education needs to be seen beyond this.

Are the prominent schools in Manipur ready to explore beyond the examination oriented approach and think out of the box ?

Are marks the only indicator of knowledge ?

The present system in vogue suggests this, there is no doubt it. However this should be no reason why serious thoughts should not be given on which way the education wind is blowing.

It would be so fruitful for the educationists, the academicians and the teachers in the truest sense of the word to come together and pool their thoughts and see whether the youngsters are being led in the right direction or not.

This is not to belittle the fantastic performances of the young students. This is but a reflection on whether schools and higher secondary schools are moving in the desired direction or not.

If no thoughts are given to this, then Manipur may well produce mark scoring machines, but young students not adequately equipped with the needed life skills to face the future boldly and successfully.