Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from May, 2015

Shocking! Indian education system gets ranked 73rd in a global study

In recent years, with the onset of India as the global back office there has been a lot of discussions in the living rooms across India talking up the Indian education system and how it gives us a great advantage over fellow Asian or eastern European nations. Even Barack Obama, addressing a group of students at a high school in Brooklyn, said “billions of people from Beijing to Bangalore to Moscow are working every day to out-educate and out-compete us,” 4 out of 10 scientists at NASA are Indians. IIT & IIM alumni are not just powering internet giants of the Silicon Valley but are also corporate high wheelers at the Wall Street. Enough reasons to believe our education system is prepping the Indian kids to take on the world. But does the premise hold any water? Is the conclusion even true? There are a few independent studies that survey the scholastic performance of eighth graders or students aged 15 around the world and the results are shocking! In 2003, TIMSS rank

Teaching is not a child’s play

Education cannot be constrained to reading and taking notes within the four walls. For years now, students practice learning subjects by rote, in fact are often actively encouraged so by parents and many teachers (or private tutors) to score higher in examinations. This takes away from the spirit of learning and leaves the student undercooked when it comes to applying the knowledge in the real world. The most important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely.                                                                                                                                         ~Albert Einstein A child needs to be moulded in such a manner that gives him the ability and courage to explore himself openly with others. Only when he starts taking risks and faces his fear

10 best practices for the new age teacher

Whether you are a newly fledged teacher or a fully fledged professor, it is common knowledge that handling those notorious little kids is not an easy task at all. But being a teacher entails a lot more responsibility than just that. When you come to the real task of instilling some knowledge or value into them, it is one real brain cruncher. Here are a few practices that you could adopt to get the best out of yourself and your class      1. Build a rapport Cultivate good communication to understand the needs of the learner. Talk to connect rather than to give a sermon. 2.  Engage with the class         This could be difficult. Kids do not have long concentration and easily get bored but if you find a way to hold their interest, then you have hit upon a gold mine.   3.  Always act, never react Always keep in mind that kids are naïve and it is part of the juvenile culture to try and get on your nerves. Even you must have done

If Govt. is graded on RTE Act, it would read, “Average. Can do much better!”

Picture this – Your maid’s daughter goes around with her, house to house and helps her out. This way they both make more time to be able to work extra houses to earn some extra cash. The kid is barely 6 and you desperately wish you could do something for her education. As noble as the thoughts are, the economics of reality don’t permit these romantic notions. With the familiar shrug of the shoulder, you chose to pass the blame to our favorite pantomime villain – the Government. And life went on… BAM! Appears Rahul Gandhi with the dimpled smile, good tidings and, Enter: Right To Education (RTE) Act This was back in 2009. 6 years have gone by since its introduction but there are still a lot many holes that need filling. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.  – Nelson Mandela Nothing is quantifiable Kids from the disadvantaged sections are supposed to get equitable and quality education and for that to happen the government nee