Who discredited the concept of mass promotions in schools The idea of mass promotion from std III to std VIII was well thought of a plan. The students were promoted, irrespective of their performance in all the tests held during the year, provided that they obtained minimum marks in failed subjects. Earlier too condonation up to 35 marks were granted, subject to 10/15 marks in each subject. The liberal, unquestionable internal marks made the promotion as easy too. The need to maintain divisions and avoid retrenchment of staff was another option for promotions. The teachers.parents students took it very lightly being indifferent to the progress and need to exert themselves. The remedial classes remained merely on paper as a formality, without ever identifying the slow learners and bringing them up to the required academic standards, The provision for re examination of failures was not a priority as it involved additional work The unpleasant effects of failures appeared in std X at the public examinations. It was all attributed to mass promotions making the concept an scapegoat for convenience and rationalisation .To circumvent this malady the detentions were strictly enforced in Std IX. Our schools are mostly concerned with reputation of school standing. All our energies, efforts are geared to achieve 100 % public results. The efficiency of the teacher is measured by performance in public examinations only. The efforts of extra classes, re -exam are a very distinguishing feature in std X only with classes beginning soon after the summer break ,and utilizing, Diwali, Ganesh and Christmas break. The principle of breaks for students benefit and stressed teacher is ignored. There is a semblance of retest in Std IX for maintaining strength for existing divisions .The Education Dept monitors detentions in all classes as a measure to gauze this problem and questions them on measures adopted Since our popularity in academic circles depend entirely on results of STD X public examination, the poor performance is related to mass promotions from std I to VIII as the cause for this malady. No credit is bestowed on the school for achievements , in sports,culture and other co-curricular activities The barometer of popularity is public examinations in the final analysis The efforts . concerns,and passions displayed in preparation for std X exam do not filter down to lower classes. The standard of passing from Std IV to VIII was subject to minimum level of performance (marks in group of subjects up to 4) even in the mass promotion.The teachers, students, parents do not exert themselves by extra classes,tuition, remedial or re examination. The escape goat is mass promotion and emphasis is on academic performance per se In India where a sizable population of students is outside the formal education system.the detained students become dropouts too early in life. The parents are busy eking out a bare sustenance of existence. Out of school controlled environment dropouts are subjected to vices in the society.Keeping them in schools at least for 8 years, it was intended to develop, skills , punctuality, interests values, in other fields that would keep them fruitfully occupied and increase literacy with maturity. There are no vocational opportunities for drop outs to be fruitfully enraged. who are not academically inclined to continue formal education There are enough stories of successful people without completion of formal education. Failures, detained students had another opportunity just to appear for examination without attending the school, but this provision too is never invoked for the benefit of the students. Hence all the inbuilt safeguard to address the mass promotion were thrown to the winds The whole present system of Education is loaded for the benefit of academically inclined . Institutions, parents, educators are seeking glory by the crown of achievements in Std X public examination. No importance is given to other fields and activities and total development of the personality of the student, The dropouts are treated as lepers in educational parlance. Hence the idea of keeping them in school environment is defeated by the lobby of academic result oriented mind set. Even if half the efforts put in at std X preparation were adopted, the non detention policy is educationally sound. An analysis, of those passing the Std X examination will be shocking in the level of desirable standards achieved. Hence retaining students in schools for a minimum period as was envisaged was sound, but unfortunately sabotaged by mass movement by academic consideration only We are all examination oriented and dominated society. We cannot think without and beyond examination as the only parameter to measure achievement. .The so called mass promotion failure is due to our negative attitude of failure to adjust to the larger goal of education
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward