The Hindu Sunday Magazine carried a topic of great interest on 13th March 2011. Covering pages 1 and 4 of the supplement in three different articles, it highlights the misconception of parents towards English medium schools in Tamil Nadu in general and the trauma that parents undergo to get their kids admitted there.
In the background of a similar program in Kerala,the reading triggered a rewind of my experience few years back. The anxiety was just the same, so I quit the play!
Read along side with the conclusion of education reality show of Government of Kerala, entitled Haritha vidyalayam the write ups clearly underscores the success of working alternatives based on Activity Based learning at LP and Active Learning Methodology in UP sections of Government schools. Reverse migration and paradigm shifts are already recorded by the evaluations conducted in Tamil Nadu, by Planning Commission and NCERT.
Another recent compilation of the views of jury members and program coordinator during the Grand Finale published in the following link vibrates on the same tune. These have triggered many parents to think deep at least now.
http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/harthavidyalya/harithavidyalaya_interview.htm
As the discrepancies are remedied and system promoted further let us strongly hope for a positive reverse migration in Kerala also.
Most of the experiences highlighted in the writeup referred to seemed a replication of exactly the scenario of any parent in a similar state in Kozhikode (Calicut) also.
There are many reputed schools around the city. In most schools, admission procedures start during October this year for admissions to coming academic year.
Some of these schools release thousands of printed applications for hundreds of seats. As quoted in the write up, here also parents or representatives start the queue from the midnight of the day before issue of forms! Getting information on the exact date of issue of forms by itself is a blessing for the lucky fellows only.
Some other schools don't issue application forms. It is simple submission on white paper.
The range of "donations" as liquid and "secure deposits" are to the tune of 1 to 3 lakhs in the most prestigious schools. Education is indeed big business now. Ironically, most of these are run by missionaries who have made great contributions to our education scenario!
There are still other private schools and franchisees of established brands elsewhere trying their hands in the consumer state.
Some other private schools don't have hectic donations at the time of admissions; Oh!Thank God! No, dont be consoled....
They have a higher extent of term fees, ranging from 4-5000 INR per term. Most of these schools don't have recognition or lack adequately trained staff and some don't even have a good playground nor library nor laboratory.
I personally feel during discussion with other parents that even some of the policies at some centres are not even child friendly and so on...But who cares? rather who is responsible for this degradation and decay?
Its quite pathetic that this is happening in the elite literate state of Kerala !Ultimately each and every one of us are to be blamed!
Our education scenario, which should be handled with so much care and caution as they mould the citizens of tomorrow is expecting a revamp soon.
There is no written test for play school admission, but they observe kids for decent behaviour and etiquette! Of course the parents are interviewed!
For KG classes and higher levels, there is an undeclared screening test, which is mostly written.
While some schools evaluate the education background of parents; others are simply interested to observe the vehicle used by the family, the brand or cost range of dress materials used by family members, the model of the mobile phone used and so on; which are obvious indicators and symbols of status, at least in the city.
From the parents view point, the selection and decision criteria are yet another. They seldom get all desired components in one place, so they prioritize and opt for the best of their choice. Those who consider finance as the criteria, opt accordingly; those who take Spoken English select accordingly; those who wish discipline as the standard select thus and those who prefer more participation in extra curricular activities go thus. Those who follow only prestige have no other option ! This varies from parent to parent ...
There is also a world school in Kozhikode now. Here the fees is in 10 multiples, as the name implies! Here kids are picked by the school vehicle and they are provided breakfast and lunch based on a variety menu at school itself. Kids are also trained on various extra curricular activities and taken on field trips also. It is indeed a blessing for employed mothers to enroll kids there, if they can meet the same. Also others who follow prestige and consider it as an esteem to enroll kids there try out that as the first choice.
Visit them at: http://sadhbhavanaschool.org/
Regarding schools in the general stream in Kozhikode, apart from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Nadakave Girls High School, I personally doubt whether there are any good ones at least in the city. So I enrolled my kids in a small adjacent private school.
The ones I visited thereafter because of my attraction to the DPEP and Activity based methods revealed a truly pathetic status.
Most schools didn't have well maintained roof's; adequate or good seating arrangements and some didn't have side walls (so that kids would get wet during rainy days) or good toilets (no doors) and so on. In most places the whole show was run by hand countable staff and in some places by the Ayahs who came to cook food.
I recalled my friends, who opted for teaching because it was the most lucrative career for girls.
One of my close friend used to say, there are innumerable benefits. A teacher need work only 150-180days a year unlike other government staff. The timing is also in tune with your kids, so taking care of the family during working days is also not a hectic task. If posted in a different or difficult area, you have the privilege to avail leave.
I have seen other cases where alternate hands are employed by the Headmaster or Managers of aided schools on contract basis and the listed teacher derives salary from the Government and sits at home for personal reasons, but of course contributing to the wages of the recruited employee. They are invited to attend the school functions on days of inspection alone! Definitely the system has to function somehow...
These are not isolated cases and its as transparent as ever. but we have learnt to accept the same and adjust accordingly.
Education for our kids has become a matter of concern only for the parent. No school environment is perfect either.At least that's what I concluded from my personal survey six years ago.
The proximity of the school, the safety in transportation, the infrastructure, etc are some standards which we can observe and understand; but how about the qualification of staff (who changes every year in most private schools), the standard of education(all schools project only the repeatedly trained smart ones), the overall development of the children, no idea....
So as parents let us devote some time for our kids and try our best to engage qualified teachers where necessary to guide them (not as tuition but only facilitation and interactive learning) and otherwise keep the curiosity lit and lets just be with them....
Recently during one of my regular visit to CSE site, we came across the green school program in other states. If interested, read more about that at: http://www.cseindia.org/taxonomy/term/20071/menu
This made us search for an excellent green school and we came across one ... drop in to see the link of this school...http://www.greenschool.org/
Truly amazing...
The Rishi Valley school is yet another which kids aspire for... It is an epitome for Jiddu Krishnamurthy's vision on education.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi_Valley_School
To conclude, let us positively hope for a transformation for better holistic education, accessible for common man and beneficial to build an upcoming generation that we can be proud of.
In the background of a similar program in Kerala,the reading triggered a rewind of my experience few years back. The anxiety was just the same, so I quit the play!
Read along side with the conclusion of education reality show of Government of Kerala, entitled Haritha vidyalayam the write ups clearly underscores the success of working alternatives based on Activity Based learning at LP and Active Learning Methodology in UP sections of Government schools. Reverse migration and paradigm shifts are already recorded by the evaluations conducted in Tamil Nadu, by Planning Commission and NCERT.
Another recent compilation of the views of jury members and program coordinator during the Grand Finale published in the following link vibrates on the same tune. These have triggered many parents to think deep at least now.
http://calicutnet.com/articles/rajesh/harthavidyalya/harithavidyalaya_interview.htm
As the discrepancies are remedied and system promoted further let us strongly hope for a positive reverse migration in Kerala also.
Most of the experiences highlighted in the writeup referred to seemed a replication of exactly the scenario of any parent in a similar state in Kozhikode (Calicut) also.
There are many reputed schools around the city. In most schools, admission procedures start during October this year for admissions to coming academic year.
Some of these schools release thousands of printed applications for hundreds of seats. As quoted in the write up, here also parents or representatives start the queue from the midnight of the day before issue of forms! Getting information on the exact date of issue of forms by itself is a blessing for the lucky fellows only.
Some other schools don't issue application forms. It is simple submission on white paper.
The range of "donations" as liquid and "secure deposits" are to the tune of 1 to 3 lakhs in the most prestigious schools. Education is indeed big business now. Ironically, most of these are run by missionaries who have made great contributions to our education scenario!
There are still other private schools and franchisees of established brands elsewhere trying their hands in the consumer state.
Some other private schools don't have hectic donations at the time of admissions; Oh!Thank God! No, dont be consoled....
They have a higher extent of term fees, ranging from 4-5000 INR per term. Most of these schools don't have recognition or lack adequately trained staff and some don't even have a good playground nor library nor laboratory.
I personally feel during discussion with other parents that even some of the policies at some centres are not even child friendly and so on...But who cares? rather who is responsible for this degradation and decay?
Its quite pathetic that this is happening in the elite literate state of Kerala !Ultimately each and every one of us are to be blamed!
Our education scenario, which should be handled with so much care and caution as they mould the citizens of tomorrow is expecting a revamp soon.
There is no written test for play school admission, but they observe kids for decent behaviour and etiquette! Of course the parents are interviewed!
For KG classes and higher levels, there is an undeclared screening test, which is mostly written.
While some schools evaluate the education background of parents; others are simply interested to observe the vehicle used by the family, the brand or cost range of dress materials used by family members, the model of the mobile phone used and so on; which are obvious indicators and symbols of status, at least in the city.
From the parents view point, the selection and decision criteria are yet another. They seldom get all desired components in one place, so they prioritize and opt for the best of their choice. Those who consider finance as the criteria, opt accordingly; those who take Spoken English select accordingly; those who wish discipline as the standard select thus and those who prefer more participation in extra curricular activities go thus. Those who follow only prestige have no other option ! This varies from parent to parent ...
There is also a world school in Kozhikode now. Here the fees is in 10 multiples, as the name implies! Here kids are picked by the school vehicle and they are provided breakfast and lunch based on a variety menu at school itself. Kids are also trained on various extra curricular activities and taken on field trips also. It is indeed a blessing for employed mothers to enroll kids there, if they can meet the same. Also others who follow prestige and consider it as an esteem to enroll kids there try out that as the first choice.
Visit them at: http://sadhbhavanaschool.org/
Regarding schools in the general stream in Kozhikode, apart from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Nadakave Girls High School, I personally doubt whether there are any good ones at least in the city. So I enrolled my kids in a small adjacent private school.
The ones I visited thereafter because of my attraction to the DPEP and Activity based methods revealed a truly pathetic status.
Most schools didn't have well maintained roof's; adequate or good seating arrangements and some didn't have side walls (so that kids would get wet during rainy days) or good toilets (no doors) and so on. In most places the whole show was run by hand countable staff and in some places by the Ayahs who came to cook food.
I recalled my friends, who opted for teaching because it was the most lucrative career for girls.
One of my close friend used to say, there are innumerable benefits. A teacher need work only 150-180days a year unlike other government staff. The timing is also in tune with your kids, so taking care of the family during working days is also not a hectic task. If posted in a different or difficult area, you have the privilege to avail leave.
I have seen other cases where alternate hands are employed by the Headmaster or Managers of aided schools on contract basis and the listed teacher derives salary from the Government and sits at home for personal reasons, but of course contributing to the wages of the recruited employee. They are invited to attend the school functions on days of inspection alone! Definitely the system has to function somehow...
These are not isolated cases and its as transparent as ever. but we have learnt to accept the same and adjust accordingly.
Education for our kids has become a matter of concern only for the parent. No school environment is perfect either.At least that's what I concluded from my personal survey six years ago.
The proximity of the school, the safety in transportation, the infrastructure, etc are some standards which we can observe and understand; but how about the qualification of staff (who changes every year in most private schools), the standard of education(all schools project only the repeatedly trained smart ones), the overall development of the children, no idea....
So as parents let us devote some time for our kids and try our best to engage qualified teachers where necessary to guide them (not as tuition but only facilitation and interactive learning) and otherwise keep the curiosity lit and lets just be with them....
Recently during one of my regular visit to CSE site, we came across the green school program in other states. If interested, read more about that at: http://www.cseindia.org/taxonomy/term/20071/menu
This made us search for an excellent green school and we came across one ... drop in to see the link of this school...http://www.greenschool.org/
Truly amazing...
The Rishi Valley school is yet another which kids aspire for... It is an epitome for Jiddu Krishnamurthy's vision on education.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishi_Valley_School
To conclude, let us positively hope for a transformation for better holistic education, accessible for common man and beneficial to build an upcoming generation that we can be proud of.
