by Sucheth P R
Thalassery: Rebelling against left and right wing teachers’ unions a new collective here is all organised a send-off meeting on March 28 to honour V Raveendran, head master of Pothuvacherry West LP School, Paral, who was humiliated by union leaders for raising voice against the flaws in the report submitted by the Alappuzha DIET to the Education Department. Since the DIET (District Institute of Education Training) report, which blame teachers for the alleged ‘poor’ quality of education in the uneconomic schools in the state, did not invite criticism from the teachers’ organisations the individual teachers who protest against the flaws in the report are often ridiculed, says Raveendran who is retiring from service this month.
Raveendran along with the teachers' unity formed at Karivellur cutting across political lines has been fighting against the new syllabus being introduced in the state for the last two years. With the slogan ' Give Back the Right to Teach’ the collective has been questioning the very foundation of the new education system. Though the proponents of the new education system often boast of the effectiveness of debates, the reality is that no discussion was allowed during symposiums conducted by DIET and other agencies. “Though critical thinking and questioning were projected as vital elements of the new system whoever dares to raise doubts were mocked and humiliated by resource persons. But I used to question some of their theories and that often led to unpleasant incidents, the culmination of which was seen last day during a send-off meeting organised for over 60 head masters in Thalassery. The teachers’ organisation leaders used the occasion to hurl words of displeasure and anger against me," said Raveendaran.
The main criticism raised by Raveendran is that the new concepts of education put into practise in the state will destroy the ability for long term memory. The students who proceed with mere working knowledge without preliminary understanding of basic concepts cannot make meaningful leaps in the construction of knowledge. The notion that all children have innate talent to acquire knowledge without the help of teachers has no scientific basis and hence the concept of making them learn everything from their own observations is meaningless. He said that the numerous projects and posts which have come along with the introduction of changes in the education system have created many conveniences, including monetary benefits. Those who avail of them will go on praising anything inculcated in the system in the label of change.
The teachers who have differences of opinion with their respective unions over their silence concerning the gross flaws in the educational reforms arranged a send-off party to Raveendran Master in Thalassery on March 28. The organising committee chairman V E Kunhanandan said that a teacher who deserved to be revered by experts for his well-thought suggestions and opinions regarding the structure of education and curriculum has been made to suffer negligence and humiliation from the so-called exponents of education who actually have no concern regarding the future of coming generations and that is why we arrange this send-off meeting. A seminar on ‘Changing Society and the Realm of Education’ was also held as part of it which was addressed by A N P Ommer Kutty, former vice-chanceloor of Calicut University and CMP leader Choorayi Chandarn.
Thalassery: Rebelling against left and right wing teachers’ unions a new collective here is all organised a send-off meeting on March 28 to honour V Raveendran, head master of Pothuvacherry West LP School, Paral, who was humiliated by union leaders for raising voice against the flaws in the report submitted by the Alappuzha DIET to the Education Department. Since the DIET (District Institute of Education Training) report, which blame teachers for the alleged ‘poor’ quality of education in the uneconomic schools in the state, did not invite criticism from the teachers’ organisations the individual teachers who protest against the flaws in the report are often ridiculed, says Raveendran who is retiring from service this month.
Raveendran along with the teachers' unity formed at Karivellur cutting across political lines has been fighting against the new syllabus being introduced in the state for the last two years. With the slogan ' Give Back the Right to Teach’ the collective has been questioning the very foundation of the new education system. Though the proponents of the new education system often boast of the effectiveness of debates, the reality is that no discussion was allowed during symposiums conducted by DIET and other agencies. “Though critical thinking and questioning were projected as vital elements of the new system whoever dares to raise doubts were mocked and humiliated by resource persons. But I used to question some of their theories and that often led to unpleasant incidents, the culmination of which was seen last day during a send-off meeting organised for over 60 head masters in Thalassery. The teachers’ organisation leaders used the occasion to hurl words of displeasure and anger against me," said Raveendaran.
The main criticism raised by Raveendran is that the new concepts of education put into practise in the state will destroy the ability for long term memory. The students who proceed with mere working knowledge without preliminary understanding of basic concepts cannot make meaningful leaps in the construction of knowledge. The notion that all children have innate talent to acquire knowledge without the help of teachers has no scientific basis and hence the concept of making them learn everything from their own observations is meaningless. He said that the numerous projects and posts which have come along with the introduction of changes in the education system have created many conveniences, including monetary benefits. Those who avail of them will go on praising anything inculcated in the system in the label of change.
The teachers who have differences of opinion with their respective unions over their silence concerning the gross flaws in the educational reforms arranged a send-off party to Raveendran Master in Thalassery on March 28. The organising committee chairman V E Kunhanandan said that a teacher who deserved to be revered by experts for his well-thought suggestions and opinions regarding the structure of education and curriculum has been made to suffer negligence and humiliation from the so-called exponents of education who actually have no concern regarding the future of coming generations and that is why we arrange this send-off meeting. A seminar on ‘Changing Society and the Realm of Education’ was also held as part of it which was addressed by A N P Ommer Kutty, former vice-chanceloor of Calicut University and CMP leader Choorayi Chandarn.
The New Indian Express
No comments:
Post a Comment