Although, Saturday classes can give a few extra hours to study (almost null in our present context) and will help them not to compromise their learning subjects because of pressure and lack of time (this has not happened much across all the subjects).
Usually on Saturday students can come to school on their best colorful attire but only to ruin their mood and themselves in their agriculture garden or SUPW or mass cleaning or class decoration work. In this way most of the Saturdays are used up for such miscellaneous activities which actually is more stressful and burdensome for our young kids and school teachers. That means Saturday classes aren't benefiting much but end up more tiring than usual. Same day (Saturday) in most parts of the world reunites most working and school children with their friends and families. However, this luxury in our context is given only to a few handful fortunate civil servants. So, in this way there is free time, washing time, family time and friend time for our students and teachers.
Next, why I think there should be no school on Saturday. Unlike any other individual, teachers also need a break, need rest for their brains and re-energize themselves (both teachers and students) to last for the next five tiring days. It can also give them (both teachers and students) happy family time and great weekend to have fun.
In PDP's time, the education sector felt the exact same thing with the idea of Child Adoption Policy (one child, one teacher policy) which both teachers and parents felt unrealistic and unnecessary. I mean dislike the idea of our previous government. It was a hump dump. There were so many questions being fired to our ex-PM through some social media platform. Why adopt someone's child when they already have living parents? How to adopt? But slowly the idea picked so well and rooted deep within and beyond the ministry's domain. Now it's doing very well in our schools across the country. Everybody was happy now. Similarly, let us test this new reform also.
In the education system there are already overloaded workloads to perform on a daily basis by our teachers. Students almost paralyzed throughout the year for heavily mismatched content. When school activities become too intense it becomes very difficult for students to cope up with content. These things are already making the education system weaker knowingly or unknowingly. When one cannot be at par with the syllabus and with other friends, it is obvious for more school dropouts (that is happening and it will happen). Our education system has failed horribly somewhere. Five learning days in a week is enough for any kinds of learning. If there is any pressure for completing PE classes or any other co-curricular activities, any few Saturdays can be used at school conveniently. Sometimes, more is less!
Therefore, something must be done now. The question I always ask myself –Why is our education system failing to produce scientists or someone working in an international firm or some multi-billionaire entrepreneurs or some high intellectuals with our present curriculum. I feel we have still so many things to look upon in our education system. Right through building facilities, curriculum, fooding for students, play field and smart classroom settings. We can still crop out some redundant topics that are no longer applicable and in use. Interestingly, some genuine topics are missing out from our curriculum. Topics like cooking classes and highly valued classes are highly recommended. These are the simple equations for making classroom learning more interesting, engaging and fun for both teachers and students.
Although, in our context there isn't any research data to back up this decision but it can definitely find lots of benefits near and far. Some countries not only have free Saturdays but also most of their afternoon session is filled with value driven learning activities like how to forge fire, entrepreneurial skills, farming skills, learning of foreign language and their culture. However, looking down at our present syllabus, our education is rather a volume driven and not knowledge and value driven. Instead of shouting at the new reform, we must come together and look for some smart classroom setting and how to help children learn more and better life skills within a framed timeline. When an old system does not work well, we must look for something different and unique. I feel such change in education is a must.
Interestingly, most of them were worried about the syllabus coverage and some unhappy about the teacher's long holidays. However, many feel that the change in this time and space is a must and it would definitely bring lots of positive impacts not only for students but also for families and friends.
Until we are clearer about our core values, the parenting choices and good old curriculum that are most likely to lead to few successes, we will continue to raise exhausted and mentally impaired children who believe they are only good as their parents, teachers and friends. Therefore, please do not say this new reform (going to be) is a stupid idea of one man.
Comments
Post a Comment