Marks For The Future: What Are Our Kids Learning?

Almost every mother can relate to this one. Often, we get to work on ‘projects’ which kids find difficult or are unable to do by themselves. In the process, we tend to overlook the congruity of the task assigned  with the child’s age or mental capability. Instead, we focus on the marks they would garner, if they succeed in submitting the same. Marks – the one and only decisive factor for academic excellence!

While I worked on it, setting aside all my chores, my son -whose initial drive to decipher the terms anode, cathode , circuit etc, were unsuccessful – opted to relax on his couch entertaining himself with his favorite choice of cartoon.

And I could not help but wonder, who does  our education system  teach – kids or parents?  Assigning difficult projects as a means to enhance the creative and cognitive faculties of children are surely welcome, but what good are they if they are not viable for the students of that particular age? What is the yardstick for measuring the mental capability of students according to our educational system?

As I encountered more and more such projects/assignments on a regular basis, I was  startled to know from fellow moms that there were shops that specialized in doing such school projects for them!

 I truly believe  children of the present generation are biting off more than they can chew. It is not just the veracity of our educational system per se that I am questioning here, but the mode and efficacy in inculcating lessons in the everyday academic life of the students as well.

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The Indian education system has always over emphasized on the theoretical aspect of studies – making rote learning, mugging and spitting the criteria to collect the much needed marks. Vocational training and talent tapping still remain a long shot and the success of the syllabus seems to be determined by the size of the back packs.

The recent stress on enhancing the creative skills of children by assigning such projects seem to have hit a chaotic road too with teachers themselves not knowing what to expect from the students. Given these situations and the competition mania prevalent among children, parents and teachers; we  doting mothers often tend to step into our childrens’ shoes, each time overlooking it as just another subtle nuance in the educational life of our kids.

But do we need our children to just amass marks for the tag of an academically successful student, and leave them to face a bleak future spoon fed by someone at all times of their lives? or would we rather let them grow up as themselves, moderately successful but having the capability to face any challenge head on and the strength to resurrect from their own failures? I think- if we can’t reform our educational system we can reform ourselves, for carving an intelligent future, can’t we?