Indian schools face challenges in 2024 as govt reforms pedagogy, evaluation

"No overall division, distinction or aggregate of marks shall be awarded. Also, if a candidate has offered more than five subjects, the decision to determine the best five subjects may be taken by the admitting institution or employer," said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.

However, educators think the essence of education lies in preparing students to face the real challenges of the world and fostering a competitive spirit that will enable them to excel globally.

“Eliminating distinctions and divisions inadvertently promotes a culture of mediocrity and compromise. This decision undermines the very essence of healthy competition, which is essential for personal and academic growth,” Gusti J Noria, President of Hyderabad Public School (HPS) Society told Moneycontrol.

HPS, whose alumni include World Bank President Ajay Banga and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, is anticipating a new learning system, one that is not solely reliant on traditional assessments in the upcoming academic year of 2024.

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According to Noria, the absence of distinctions might impact the motivation levels of students, as the clear benchmarks for achievement are no longer in place. “This could potentially affect their preparedness for global competition, as the absence of a competitive edge may hinder their ability to stand out on an international scale,” he said.

To address this challenge, HPS plans to implement teaching methodologies that emphasise holistic development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, mentorship programs will be introduced to guide students in setting and achieving personal goals, beyond the scope of conventional academics.

Two board exams, two languages

In August 2023, the Ministry of Education came up with a new curriculum framework for K-12 education, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP). It suggested that board examinations will now be conducted twice a year and students will be allowed to retain the best score. The purpose is to ensure that students have the time and opportunity to perform well.

“School teachers will have to be relieved twice for performing both invigilation and copy correction duties, which will lead to loss of teaching time in the schools. This will be a serious challenge,” said Poonam Kochitty, Principal of Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow.

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Further, the curriculum framework also mentioned that students of classes 11 and 12 will have to study two languages with one being an Indian language.

Kochitty said this may pose a challenge to those who have opted for English and a foreign language in Grades IX and X.

“How will that learning gap be made good?” she wonders.

For the two-language decision at the Grade XI level, the Principal said more clarifications and a course outline would be required. Schools will then have to work out a method of bridging the gap. “Obviously learning an Indian language will enhance a child's understanding of the uniqueness and richness of Indian Literature and culture,” she added.

Age to begin formal schooling

This year, the Ministry of Education directed state governments and Union Territories (UTs) to set 6+ as the age for admission to grade 1, in line with the NEP, which recommends strengthening the learning of children at the ‘foundational stage’ as a national priority.

The foundational stage consists of five years of learning for all children aged 3 to 8 – three years of pre-school education and two years of early primary grade 1 and grade 2.

“With states and the Centre having direct age brackets, it's causing confusion and chaos among parents. The fear is also whether their wards will suffer in case of transfers between states. The safest option would be to follow the Centre's guidelines and delay the admission age of students,” said Aishwarya Rao, Director of The Vivekananda Group of Institutions.

To address this, Vivekalaya plans to stick to central guidelines for admission age, simplifying the decision-making for parents and easing concerns about transfers. “We'll actively seek input from the school community, work towards consistency across institutions, and share the benefits with parents through straightforward communication,” she said.