Tuesday, May 8, 2012

SCRAPPING OF HIGHSCHOOL&VOCATIONAL HIGHERSECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN KERALA

The present Education Minister of Kerala had on 30th March2012suggested about dispensing with the present system of highschools &Vocational Higher Secondary system in the Kerala State&introducing a New system as per theFederal Govt right to Education Act.
This would if implemented(which is doubtful) will scrap the present well established  time tested system of education prevailing in the State.
Under the provisions of the proposed system,Class 5 was to become Lower Primary,Class 8 onwards Primary system thereby leavingClass 9 &10 as isolated
So the solution to overcome the resistace caused by new introduction suggested by him was that the isolated classes could be brought under Higher secondary system.By doing like this ,the advantages according to the M inister was that it was a well thought measure to make vocational Education  accessible  to more students  by making optional  the subjects of the Higher secondary schools.He was sure to implement the changes  by the year2013.
Easier said it. But difficlt to implement without the consent of Educational Wizards of Kerala and the ruling front with whom a comprehensive discussion would appear to be necessary before taking absolute decisions.
To make the picture clearer  about the vocational system of higher secondary education an examination taking into account the Merits&demerits of the systen also in comparison withe system prevailing in the United States would appear to be necessary:-

THE PROPOSAL OF THE EDUCATION MINISTER IS TO IMPLEMENT VOCATIONAL SYSTEM IN 9TH&10TH STANDARDS.CURRENTLY THESE ARE IN 11TH&12TH STANDARDS.
HIS IDEAS SEEM TO BE CONCENTRATED ON BIASED VIEWS WITHOUT NECESSARY THOUGHT TO THE PROS&CONS OF THE SYSTEM.
THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IS THAT CERTAIN STUDENTS FROM LOWER INCOME GROUP WHO ARE LIKELY TO ENTER THE JOB MARKET EARLY, COULD DERIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRAINING FACILITIES AFFORDED TO THEM.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THOSE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT NEED EARLY JOB MAY LIKE TO
INCREASE THEIR VOCATIONAL SKILLS BY FOLLOWING TRADITIONAL PATH WITH A VIEW TO BETTRING THEIR VOCATIONAL SKILLS ARE UNLIKELY TO OPT FOR
 GETTING EARLIER JOBS BY ENTERING JOB MARKETS.

LET US NOW COMPARE THE SYSTEM PREVAILING IN THE FEDERAL STATES OF USA&IN
INDIA.

IN USA,THERE IS A SYSTEM PREVAILING IN WHICH "STANDERDISED APTITUDE TEST" OR
POPULARLY CALLED "SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST"(S A T)& THIS IS THE CRITERION TO
DECIDE SCORES WITH ACADEMIC&OTHER CREDENTIALS BY COLLEGES &UNIVERSITIES IN USA

THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE POPULAR AND ACCEPTED IN INDIA BY STUDENTS UNLIKE USA

APART FROM THIS,THERE ARE OTHER CONCEPTS OF HOME SCHOOLING POPULAR IN THE UNITED STATES.IN THIS BRANCH PARENTS COULD EDUCATE THEIR KIDS AT HOME.THERE, A SET OF GUIDE LINES IS  ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE.STUDENTS.THEY CAN ALSO  TAKE EXAMS AT HOME. FOR THIS THERE ARE STANDARDISED TESTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR PROFICIENCY.

THI CONCEPT  DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AVAILBLE&FAMILIAR TO STUDENTS IN INDIA.MAY BE OR MAY NOT BE SOME STUDENTS FROM AFFLUENT FAMILIES IN KERALA ARE FOLLOWING THIS CONCEPT.BUT NOT MANY TO BE SURE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VAST POPULATION IN KERALA.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED&WHAT IS BEING FOLLOWED &PREVAILING WOULD NEED WIDE DISCUSSIONS IN DETAIL AMONG STEWARDS&WIZARDS OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN KERALA.

IF YET TO BE FIRM ON IMPLEMENTING,THERE SHOULD BE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THE STUDENTS VIZ:
1)EARLIER JOBSEEKING ORIENTED STUDENTS
2)SLOW BUT THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE SEEKING GROUPS OF STUDENTS &
3)THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN BETWEEN.

EVEN IF ALL ABOVE MENTIONED ARE MET WITH,THE QUESTION OF SUPERIOR INFRASTRUCTURE IS A QUESTION NOT EASILY COULD  BE ANSWERED !.

IN THE UNITED STATES ,THEY BEING A VAST NATION WITH LESS POPULATION WHO ARE MOSTLY RICH,&A LOT OF EXCESS LAND  AVILABLE FOR DEVOLOPMENT,THEY COULD PLAN ANYTHING&IMPLEMENT IT EASILY.THERE, DISCIPLINE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS SOMETHING OTHER NATIONS SHOULD APPRECIATE.

HERE IN INDIA ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF KERALA THE DICIPLINE IS SOMETHING TOTALLY MISSING.EVEN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON FACILITY OF ROADS THE GOVT IS FACING HERCULIAN TASKS TO VACATE PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE LAND FROM OWNERS.THE INTERFERENCE FROM POLITICIANS IS UNSCROUPLESS.THE FORESTS&OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES CAN NOT BE TOUCHED FOR WANT OF SAFE LIFE WITH REFERENCE TO ENVIRONMENT, IN VIEW.THE DAYS OF ATTACKING EVEN  THE "KANDAL FORESTS" AVAILABLE IN KERALA IS OVER.
SO WE HAVE TO START EVERYTHING AFRESH FOR WHICH WIDE DISCUSSIONS AMONG PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES&POLITICAL PARTIES WOULD APPEAR TO BE NECESSARY&A MUST.

BEFORE MENTIONING THAT THE SYSTEM WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ,ONE WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE READY AVAILABILITY OF SUPER INFRASTUCTURES REQUIRED.
IiN ORDER TO CREATE SUPER IFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL FACILITIES FOR QUALITY TRAINING TO THE STUDENTS ARE NECESSARY.FOR  THIS  LAND,BUILDINGS,TECHNICAL ENGINEERING&MEDICAL FACILITIES ARE  SEPERATELY REQUIRED.iT IS NOT LIKEKY &EASY TO MERGE SUCH FACILITIES WITH  NEW INFORMATION  TECHONOLOGY  SYSTEM AVAILABLE HERE  AS SUCH A COURSE OF ACTION  WOULD TOTALLY DIMINISH THE REQUIREMENTS OF EITHER OF THEM. IN OTHER WORDS ,THERE WOULD BE COLLISION OF FACILITIES RESULTING NEITHER THE FRESH SECONDARY STUDENTS NOR THE TECHNICAL HANDS IN INSTITUTIONS LIKE INFOSIS,TECHNOPARKS COULD USE FACILITIES ADVANTAGEOUSLY.

SO SEPARATE FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS IS A MUST. FOR CREATING BUILDINGS&TECHICAL FACILITIES SEPARATELY. FOR THIS HUGE AREAS OF LAND IS REQUIRED IN PLACES EASILY ACCESSABLE TO STUDENTS. THAT IS IN MAJOR CITIES

BEFORE ALL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS  TRAINING TO STUDENTS ARE THOUGHT ABOUT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RIGHT TO DECLARE A NEW SYSTEM.ENORMOUS AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IS TO BE  MADE SURE TO GET.tECHNICAL FACULTY IS ANOTHER MUST.

ANY CONSTRAINT IN BETWEEN  ENROLLING STUDENTS&PUTTING THEM TO AVAIL OF TRAINING FACILITIES COULD ,PERHAPS,HAMPER THE VERY PURPOSE ENVISAGED..

SO A SERIOUS THOUGHT AMONG THE LEGISLATORS,RULING FRONT&EDUCATIONAL VIZARDS IS NECESSARY .THIS KIND OF PROJECTS COULD START ONLY AFTER TOTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN  THE  RULING FRONT&OPPOSITION

              
              Sreedharan Mundanat
             3rd November 2012