Our best hope for a better tomorrow lies in the passion and drive of young minds. Travel to any city-school and you’ll witness Pune’s youngest and brightest in sharp attendance.
This week, Pune365 ensures our future leaders get a voice. Read on to discover the hopes and aspirations city students have for our education system.
Mithila Deshmukh is 11 and a student of standard six.“I go to a private school with 62 children in my division. When the teacher drones away at the front of the classroom, it is easy to lose track. Catch sight of a wandering insect on the wall next to you and the next second you’re lagging behind by a half a page on the dictated answers. If Ma’am notices I get a rap on the knuckles with her wooden scale.
“Notes help us clear the exams, but I’d like a better way to learn Science than mug up notes,” she expresses revealing experiments and practicals are just namesake at her school. “We’re only allowed lab visits thrice a semester and taught experiments that shall come in the exam,” says the girl who dreams of becoming an experimental physicist, but doesn’t know how.
Kavish Mehra is 13 and has much to say on the subject. “My mom is a Math teacher, and I study at the same school she teaches at. Though it is a government aided school, I can see how the teachers use limited facilities to encourage us and get us excited about studies. I’m no Pythagoras, but I’d like to see us all have the passion to dream of becoming a Ramanujan someday.”
Rahul Deo is a student of class 10 who recalls his younger days. “Kids can be quite curious and inquisitive. I remember that I certainly was as a wee little nine-year-old. But the sad truth is we’re thoroughly discouraged from deviating from textbook learning. Any inquisitive questions earn us a rebuke in most classes. How are we to learn anything new in such circumstances?” he poses an apposite question.
Rahul goes on to question the relevance of subjects like History, Geography for most classes. “How is learning about Shivaji Maharaj’s conquests and the ancient Battle of Plassey relevant today? Textbooks need updating! I’d rather learn about fiscal reforms made by the last finance minister than learn of some long-departed king,” he says hitting the nail right on the head.
Vidhi Nahak is a 14-year-old who shares, “I’m currently in class IX, but we’re studying the syllabus of class X. We were given a crash course of IX standard portion in the last semester of standard VIII.”
The girl believes this is just a way to ensure her school has the most students secure over 90% in the 10th ICSE exams.“Personally, I don’t understand the hype given to 10th board exams. Yes, they shall set us on the right path for our careers, but is it worth toiling away for two years!?” she aptly questions.
Vidhi explains that most of her classmates signed up for 10th std coaching classes the moment they passed standard 8. “Our teachers encouraged us to do so,” she claims. This statement is deeply evocative of the immense pressure exerted on teenagers in the name of ‘10th Board Exams’.
It seems our nation’s youngest and brightest minds are rotting away in musty classrooms with their noses buried in redundant textbooks . Unquestionably, it is time to revisit the syllabus, revise the subjects and revamp the education, simply because, gen next deserves better!
#Respondent names changed to protect individual privacy. All views expressed in this article are those of the respondents.
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