Radical reforms

This refers to the express headline “BSE rot stinks, top to bottom” (TNIE, 23 Aug 2007). It has nicely exposed the rot in the examination system leading to “mark-fixing scams”. With the Chief Minister appointing a committee for suggesting reforms, we should take advantage of the situation in creating better systems for the future. It is time we suggested some radical reforms in our boards and councils.

The current examination system, controlled by BSE, is a result of our distrust for many. Perhaps the single most objective of the existing system is to negate the “internal biases” in our various schools. A closer examination of the existing evaluation process, as highlighted in the express report, shows that it cannot even fulfill this objective properly. Rather it adds a lot of non-value adding activities that distances the teacher/evaluator from the students. Moreover, several individuals fall victim to this system unknowingly. The end-result: BSE’s credibility has been severely undermined.

Further, the existing system of student evaluation is detrimental to the growth of young minds. It stifles their creative ability and does not provide enough motivation to the schoolteachers to create interesting learner-centric modules.

The most radical step forward would be to empower the schools to evaluate their own students. Models could be adopted whereby the teacher is encouraged to bring various creative methods of delivery and evaluation into the classroom. Teachers belonging to the region need to be supported to take the responsibility of evaluating the students in a transparent manner. The ultimate level in transparency is when students are allowed to compare their answers and the teacher/evaluator is allowed to respond to the student seeking re-evaluation. The board can only play the role of a mentor in developing the capabilities of these distributed centers. With the education sector poised for rapid expansion and competition, it is going to be extremely difficult to have the boards/councils undertaking the task of examining students without revamping their existing processes.

I urge the educators and legislators to shed their conservative outlook and make a bold step forward in devolving greater power to the schools.