Strengthening Primary Education in India

• “Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level”. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

 Over 85% of a child’s brain development occurs prior to the age of 10. It indicates that we must ensure appropriate care and stimulation of the brain in a child’s early years to ensure healthy brain development and growth. “Primary education forms the base of children on which the edifice of a successful society and nation is built. New Education Policy-2020 mandates Universal provision of quality primary education for all by 2030. This can be achieved only if we involve ourselves with whole heart and soul to the cause of education and work with some commitment. Some of the pre-requisite activities to strengthen the primary education are as given under:

School Readiness Programme: School felt that child should be prepared before he is initiated to the formal education system. The school readiness is an effort in this direction. The purpose of this program is to prepare new entrants to accept the school as a part of their life. During first few weeks an environment which should become a link between the home and school should be developed and entire period is devoted to play-way activities so that children develop and interest to come to school voluntarily. The approach of learning by doing arouse the level of curiosity and confidence among children. In the suggested activities the child is being exposed to familiarize with school. Competencies such as observation, making distinction, identifying and understanding some basic skills have been kept in view.

Development of Foundational Literacy & Numeracy: Primary classes are the backbone of entire education. So the development of basic numeracy and language skills viz. listening, speaking, reading, and writing is a must to understand and achieve the target of basic arithmetic & mathematical thinking and language learning. Quality digital resources should be developed and utilized to build a culture of reading and communication.

Curtailing Dropout Cases & Ensuring Education for All: Though government is trying to ensure 100% enrollment of children in schools and tracking them through UDISE numbers but public awareness & community assistance is also required to ensure zero dropout and universal education for all children in India. Evening classes should be arranged at every school by volunteers or local NGOs.

Activity Based Learning: The books are having a number of activities to be implemented among the students according to their need. These activities generate interest, curiosity, makes learning easy and creative. The students must be divided into groups to perform group activities and to have a real joyful learning.

Friendly Learning Environment: Teachers should maintain homely environment particularly in classes I and II with an affectionate heart while being with the kids so that they may feel homely at school also. A homely atmosphere in class at a school will keep them active, interested and attracted towards learning process through play-way teaching.

Dedicated Teaching: There should be only two are three teachers to teach class I and II, so that the children get well acquainted with the subject and activities undertaken under the loving care of these teachers. Maximum use of teaching aids, black-board, projector, pictorial charts, pictorial poems and stories and activities like poem recitation, role play, mimicry etc will prove quite effective and interesting.

Grading System: Grading system has been adopted for primary section to get rid of examination phobia and anxiety. This system has no room for first, second and third position in class, which checks unhealthy competition for position in the class. Really the grade system is a good beginning for the students to feel comfortable. This will relieve the students immerse psychological pressure. In general, this system will save the individuality and creativity of students.

MLL-Minimum Level of Learning Programme: Evaluation system in primary classes is skill oriented. Since there are so many skills in each subject to be tested, it is difficult to test all of them simultaneously. It has been suggested that different skills should be deployed phase wise and evaluation thereof must be done phase wise. In this way we can easily test individual’s ability in the same skill and maintain also minimum level of learning among the student.

Identification of Slow Learners and Underachievers: Slow learners and underachievers must be identified so that spare time may be given to bring them up to minimum level of learning. A simplification of learning must be developed and drilling of exercises should be encouraged for such type of children.

Child-centered Education: Children in primary classes should not be kept confined to the classrooms for a long time. They should be taken out to the playground to play and the teacher must join them. The teachers should also be with their while taking lunch. Teachers should acquaint themselves with child-centered approach; activity based teaching learning strategies and play-way techniques to make the learning process interesting.

The shift of emphasis in the curriculum to the new approach is from teaching to learning with focus on equipping the learners with essential language skills and granting them confidence to use them effectively in life situations. They must be given chance to exercise their thinking capacity. Use of audio-visual aids, demonstrations and dramatizations are helpful technique in this regard. To create interest and motivate the children for attending class and school, interesting Hindi poems and English nursery rhymes can be recited in a melodious manner, which can really inspire the beginners and promote in them the love for their school.

Holistic Development of Children: The goal of education is shifted to create holistic and well rounded development of individuals equipped with 21^st century skills away from the rote learning. Hence all aspects of curriculum and pedagogy must be changed to attain these critical goals and ensure holistic development of children.

Multilingualism and Mother tongue: Primary education must be given in native/local languages so that children can learn/ understand properly and happily. Though Rajbhasha Hindi & English should also be taught together but these should not be forcibly taught or used as the only medium of instruction in primary classes. Teachers should be encouraged to use multilingual approach, including teaching-learning materials, with those students whose native language may be different from the local medium of instruction.

Multidisciplinary Approach:  Children should be taught in collaborative and multidisciplinary methods, so that children can learn same topic from the viewpoint of more than one discipline for better understanding of the topic.

Importance of Music & Art: Music is a mixture of song, instrument and dance. A child has some of music right from birth and we can teach patriotism and moral values through songs (action, solo or group songs). Likewise art is very fascinating for children and they can learn any topic in fullest through the use of art. Hence Art integrated learning is being promoted.

The best has no bounds, but if these activities are being carried out honestly and sincerely by schools, it will definitely strengthen primary education in India.

Written by :

Ambrish Kumar Gupta

Principal

Kendriya Vidyalaya Rajkot. Gujarat.

Email- akgkvs@gmail.com

Education- M.A. in Ancient Indian History & Archaeology, B.ED.

NET Qualified in History, Archaeology, Indian Culture.