There is no substitute for hard work’ is a common saying. But, does it apply to students in schools where Non-detention Policy is in place under S.S.A? The answer is quite doubtful since the child is now clever and taking undue advantage over it. This is a matter of concern for all.
As our country cannot afford to remain ignorant and illiterate, the Govt. of India finally launched a comprehensive and holistic program for education of the country under the theme of Serva Shikhsha Abhyan (S.S.A) which primarily aims to provide free and compulsory elementary education to all children up to 14 years of age.
To achieve this ambitious aim, S.S.A has formulated certain policies and rules which include-Non-detention till completion of elementary education, No caporal punishment or mental harassment, No capitation fee, Admitting a child into a class appropriate to his/her age for non-starter, Continuous and comprehensive evaluation system incorporating re-teach and re-test and so on, on the academic aspect.
With the inclusions of those provisions in our educational system, a paradigm shift has been made from teacher-centred method to child-centred approach making our children completely free from stress and tension. It has reduced all barriers thereby making education accessible to every children irrespective of whatever they are under the slogan of “Read All, Progress All”. As a result an enormous increase in enrolment is being witnessed even in our state.
However this scheme is also not free from its demerits. Earlier, our researcher pointed out that Naga students are by nature easy-going, quite irregular, lack of hard working and satisfied with simple pass despite having enough inborn capabilities.
Notwithstanding this, the new policy of education has rendered our students more passive, lazier and complacent than ever in their endeavour. This practice is more prevalent with rural students. Many parents (who are also illiterate) never bother about their children .They totally dependent on the school for all round development of their children which is almost impossible. Those irresponsible parents instead of sending their children to school cause them to be absent in the class by engaging them in looking after their siblings, working in the field and other domestic works. In addition to that, pupils stray from school with the main reason to escape Class Test or Re-teach-Re-test (C.C.E) process by keeping in mentality that they would not be detained. All these irregularities not only creating trouble in the class and adding extra burden to teachers but also causing time constraint when the teacher is struggling to complete the four quarterly assessments on one hand and on the other to cover up the lengthy syllabus.
Lack of home study is another major problem especially for slow learners or non-starters who cannot cope up with the normal class teaching, who require special attention.
Under these circumstances teachers are left in dilemma as to whether promote the student by compromising quality education or detain him and face the situation.
It can be agreed that educational goals can be achieved only through joint action of the teachers, students, parents and the community/Govt. Therefore, the need for having such joint responsibility should be well emphasised to one and all and at the same review the policy to suit our local requirements or else the present S.S.A Policies cannot be applied to all Children.
Vechovoyi
Asst Teacher
G.M.S. Sekruzu
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