I re-quote: To opt or not to opt!!!!

I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine, Piyu on her blog regarding the reforms our HRD ministry has decided to bring about in education . I thought it made a good article on Human thoughts, so I’m reposting the discussion here. Hope you will contribute to this discussion on either of our blogs..

 

On Monday, November 9, 2009, Piyu wrote -

TOI, DH, IE, Hindu…. Rediff, yahoo! Just about everything was gung ho about 10th exams going optional! So much so that, the permanent link to the rediff item ends in “govt-makes-strong-pitch-for-educ-reforms.htm”. Hmmmm….
It was as though there was a furious re-arranging of the deck chairs going on as the ship sank. “The Class X board exams will become optional in all CBSE schools from the coming academic year (2010-11).”
NEWS!!!!
The government on Monday announced that it will introduce grading system in all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools and make Class X board exams optional from coming academic year (2010-11).
Union Human Resource Development minister Kapil Sibal, during a press conference in New Delhi, said: “Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) supports making Class X examination optional in CBSE system.”
And then the letters to the editor followed. I especially remember this one -
“This is a revolutionary bold step undertaken by a minister. Had it been taken by some one 30 years back, I would have also cherished by childhood instead of remembering it as the most traumatic period of my life. Anyway, I feel happy thinking that atleast now onwards god gifted human life specially its child hood will be remembered happily by everyone. Learning should be always a happy and enjoyable experience. The moment it becomes an unpleasant painful job, it will fail to fulfill its objective and the whole exercise of education system will be futile..Last but not least it is an humble request to the hon'ble minister Sri Kapil Sibalji, to think about the entry age of children of going to school.”
And that set me thinking. One of those Wordsworth’s “pensive” moods I guess. I didn’t know what it meant to make an exam optional and replace it with a “grading system”. The grading system is “an aptitude exam, which schools can use to test Class X students on their level of understanding in each subject.” What’s the distinction and what difference will that distinction make?
Won’t the student’s competitive spirit dampen? Won’t it all get diluted? What’ll happen to the good ol’ days of studying? Will students succumb to the “chalta hai” attitude? Will parents no longer push their children to be their best? What will happen to the torches of tomo? Won’t all of them make it the easy way?
But then, a move such as this one must have really been under consideration for long and probably after a long deliberation, implemented. So, what must have been going on in the mind of Kapil Sibal when he introduced this move? As he put It, it was to de-traumatize education.
Interesting! I pondered. (Click for More/Less)

How many of you had to forego your cricket camps because it was “10th board exams?” “Oh! I stopped sending sheela to music classes.. after all, it is boards this year.she ought to be studying!” I could hear my neighbour say. My own brother discontinued cricket because 10th was board. One promising left arm spinner, lost! Why, you ask? Because, after 10th it is pre-univ and board-time again! So, it never goes beyond that. Atleast, most of the time. I at times wonder, what would have happened if the parents had continued to send their children to extra-curricular classes instead of just sweating it out in front of books! Instead of making them write the grammar lessons which they never really understood a zillion times just coz’ u can score a 100 in Sanskrit. Or grab all the formulae that the student came across lest he miss out on something that may appear for "one" crucial mark in “the boards!”. The young singing talent lost her voice because she was made to read aloud her history dates early morning everyday – so loud and clear lest she forgets them. Or seen parents askin' children not to read the latest knowledge bank or maybe even tinkle, coz it doesn’t have Board curriculum! Huh! These are just a few of the most generous and lenient instances.
I haven’t touched tuitions yet. When the rest of the whole world blissfully sleeps, alarms go ringing right from 3 or even earlier and then you know! That there is a student who is appearing for the “Boards!” oh yes! Ofcourse, you realize. Their day starts this early. And when the rest of the whole world thinks of jogging and getting some good refreshing exercise, the “Boards” victim is off on his bicycle carrying with him a rucksack as though on an expedition. Socials, science, math and what not! Yes, he has to finish his math tuition and then run to science classes! And there is hardly a gap of 15 mins. Ofcourse, he can’t come home. The tuition is faaaar off! Great!
The whole world cheers TZP – makes it a runaway hit! But hypocrisy prevails when it comes to treating their own kids! If you are a 10th std board candidate, try taking your easel and do that sketch u always wanted to do. And you’ve had it! “U are in Board! This isn’t the time to be doing it! Do it in ur summer vacations” comes the call. You drop what’s in your hand, totally frustrated, you walk towards ur room, pull out a book and all you can see is images of that one sketch you wanted to make. And nothing goes in.
Oh…. How could I miss the mocks! Umpteem number of mock-tests…. Mock state and national rankings…. More mock tests.. more rankings…. Life!
10th standard! That’s like 14 or 15 yrs! A teenager…. An inquisitive mind…. Hot blood…. Curiosity to see the world.. do something new…. Challenge…. Pursue their passion…. And ofcourse, Experience the sheer joy of childhood !Isn’t that supposed to be happening?
What is this life full of care, when we have no time to stand and stare?
What happened to the happiness lies where the heart is? What are we pushing them towards in the name of developing a competitive spirit? 7th and 10th students committing suicide coz’ they got a math problem wrong? You call that healthy?
And don’t ever blame it on the child, saying he was sensitive – you made him so! The system made him so! A child, probably a Sachin of tomo was killed because you failed to see the talent in him? Because board exams don’t measure your other attributes? Or you are looking down on the child’s innate abilities and are after him to acquire something new and beat others in it when he could have topped in his area of expertise?
The Board just does that. No doubt, it instills the competitiveness and urge to fight. But, what are we fighting for? 1 mark? 2 marks? Have you seen kids line up infront of the teachers’ desks being at their persuasive best for a quarter mark because that quarter will make them top? Is this the kind of competition we teach? So, what do you think will happen to these kids? They’ll never enjoy the process. They al become so result-oriented and selfish, that they fail to think beyond.
“I play to win” sounds nice when you really enjoy the play and learn along. Learning is not always measured by marks. Learning is an all-round phenomena. What you learn becomes crucial at a later stage.
"It is sports day after all! Stay at home and revise for that test next week. Don’t sign up for any dance events." "It is Boards this time. Don’t this. Don’t that."
When Kapil Sibal talked of de-traumatising education, he meant this and much more which can never be put down in words. The psychology of the child is so inexplicable – you never know what you can do by foolish acts not to mention education systems gone haywire!
Grading system overcomes all this to some extent. It is revolutionary. It is a positive move – one that instills hope that not everything is so bad after all. An optional system is in no way going ot dilute the quality of education, trust me on this. Students are not going t be let away with whatever they do. There is a constant evaluation happening and hopefully one that takes into account the student’s overall performance. So, this kind of monitoring will keep the student on his toes – he has to constantly perform but the difference being – there is no pressure , so scope for optimal learning accompanied by performance. A cool example of competence and performance nourishment sans pressure. Infact chn will have a more rounded personality. Isn’t this the optimal environ for growth?
Young kids should not be considered as computer hard disk memory so that we keep on storing information in the name of imparting knowledge. Through education let us not make the effort to make some one learned but let us kindle the light of desire to know the unknown by themselves. Education always meant that, didn’t it?

 

If you’re still reading (God bless you with abundance- lots of money, love and attention), here’s what I said in reply-

Sooner or later, there is going to be something to increase the pressure. 20-30 years back, there was no pressure on people to pursue Engg/Medicine as the only 'monetary' disciplines.. Our own parents have done very well through other courses. But the pressure has changed,and it is just a handful students who pick Science stream, or Arts stream or one from a multitude of others.
Other new built pressures include pursuing a PG for better pay, children forced to choose friends from a 'amiable' set, and so on.
The truth is that today with increasing workloads, the ability to withstand pressure has to increase. I would liken it to when a bee breaks out of its covering with great struggle, it's the struggle that strengthens its wings. Dramatic, but I kinda liked this analogy..
I've honestly felt that the pressure I've experienced at the 10th and 12th stages, and the fact that I made it through strengthened me with pressures at work. It's something that many of my friends have agreed with.
Now, more than ever, the need to cope with increasing load is essential. Kids with talent will pursue their ambitions as well as their studies. They may not do both on an equal scale, but that's a choice the kids and their parents (read: only parents) have to make. Bringing context here through cricket,people talk of Sachin being able to achieve so much despite his incomplete schooling and the support from his parents, while people like Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and many others completed their schooling, graduation with honors and pursued their passions as well.
At a time when Obama is asking his country's educators to step up the education level there to compete with Indians, Chinese students,such a step would be taking the foot off the pedal. More than reducing pressure at these levels, it would be wiser to distribute each level (10th,12th) over a 2-3 year period with varying pressure. Students must be given the option of taking a major exam at the end of one year by applying to it. The syllabus can be broken down to distribute the difficulty level, so that no year is preferential. Also, it must be ensured that any early or late completion has no negative effect on their career prospects. This way the kids really interested in pursuing a career through their education can do so earlier, and the ones who want to attempt an alternate career path can do so as well. The parents can rest assured that things will work out, if the security of a catch-net is available in case one of the options chosen by them fails.
Then again, like you said, the HRD ministry must have put a lot of thought into this process before deciding to implement it.

And here’s some cartoons on students that you may like.

The Indianisation of Duniya

 

"Yeh suit mera dekho, yeh boot mera dekho,
Jaise gora koi London ka.."

Gone are the days when we look westwards for style icons. It is surprising though, that the west looks to us for spiritual and moral icons. Not long ago, when Mr.Barrack ‘Peace’ Obama was conferred with the Nobel, Matt Damon said India’s own Gandhi was his inspiration to do good work. Not much of a surprise really, everyone hides behind Gandhi to do good work. Our politicians have often quoted Gandhi in their speeches and have done some pretty exemplary (read: lame) work, even for their standards. Going back on the timeline by a few more weeks, Julia Roberts shooting for a movie in India, suddenly decides to go the ‘baba’ way by having her kids named after Hindu deities. And baba rightly blessed them “Baba sab theek kardenge, ok?”

So what is it about India that keeps the goras coming here for a piece of the spiritual cake? Well, it’s not just that. Why else would they rake up the love story between Independent India’s first patriarch, Nehru and the wife of the last viceroy of India, Mrs.Edwina Mountbatten? This is not a new fascination. India has always been on the cards when ‘they’ needed to portray action in a poor,malnourished environment (Read: Slumdog Millionaire, City of Joy, Octopussy, I could go on for long..)

The mystery that shrouds India’s mystics and yoga and the like, make it a magical land at least to those poor souls who lap up on the stories that numerous industries quite literally thrust down them. Yoga as it was in India with terms like Gomukhasana, Shalabhasana and so on, are getting westernized with terms like upward dog, Warrior 1, Warrior 2 (and all of Ashtanga yoga being labelled as Power yoga). It shouldn’t be long when they try to patent yoga, I mean they’ve also tried patenting the medicinal use of turmeric and mehndi and so on.

No cross cultural connect would be complete without mentioning Raj Kapoor, the showman of the millennium. Re-runs of his old movies still run like hot cakes in Russia. In the very words of a Russian old lady-

"In early fifties, just after the devastating war with Germany, the country was still in ruins we were poor and our life was full of privations and shortages," said the old lady during `Retrospective of Raj Kapoor films` organised in the provincial city of Tver.

“But when we saw greater hardships being faced by the poor from the country (India) with a smile, it gave us optimism. So after watching `Awara` and `Shri 420`, Raj Kapoor became a symbol of optimism for the Soviet people.” she added.

So there it is folks! Hope. The world looks to us for Hope. We may not have encouraged talented worthy workers to do more, but we certainly have hugged them and called them our own when they succeed. Hope moves the world. If you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t stand a chance to win the raffle! Here’s hoping that some grinding cogs in the system’s machinery somewhere will start realizing that.

(In other unrelated news, India is planning to build the world’s largest building! Well, Good luck with that! :P)

Irony

Here’s something that typifies common behavior during a vacation-

 

 

The blogger goes on…

 

For more such images, visit here.

Chapter 13 Arising from the ashes

 

 

On our way back home the next day, I couldn’t shake the energy off my mind, I didn’t want to. I had wished to return to normalcy, but I had got more than I could bargain for. My thoughts had evolved manifold in the past 24 hours. I was raring to go home; I had plans to make, goals to set, places to go.

It had hardly been a few minutes since I got home, but I got started on my plans. I wanted to get all this progress down on paper, who knows how long it would last! I was in cruise control; nothing around me was affecting me. I started reading articles about depression, reasoning that prior to the trip- it was depression that had made me feel like a total loser. It was startling to find it listed as a clinical disorder that quite often required therapeutic treatment. Being idle seemed to be the major reason of depression. Let hours pass by without any work, and depression would gladly fill in the void. I planned work throughout the day, making sure I was always on my toes. This was my second chance at a good life and I must not take it for granted.

 

With my plan in place, I began the next day at 5:30 in the morning. I had scheduled a workout regime for the next hour and started with an unseen energy guiding me. Throughout the month, I took up mini programming projects for each day and completed them. Everything that had always interested me found new attention. I dedicated 2 hours each day to learn new things; things that always fascinated me, new technologies, anything I could get my hands on. Spirituality was an aspect I had always neglected, but I spent a few minutes each day in that aspect as well in the form of meditation. Journaling, articles, and music- you name it; I was doing it all.

Sure, there were bad days. Certain days came to pass when I felt like I was going back to the pathetic form. Each time that happened, I recalled the person I could become, and silenced the voice in my head that pushed me to procrastinate. All days could not be as productive, but I made sure that I gave every ounce of energy to each day. Irrespective of the consequences, I would always end up satisfied, knowing I had done my best that day.

 

I applied to jobs religiously, sometimes even 8-10 job applications a day. My resume now glittered with my programming projects and all the hobbies I had acquired. I took my personal life to a new level as well. House chores, bills, and every bit of work I could do. I spent time with my parents each day at dinner, and they loved this new change in me. All the scornful looks from neighbors and relatives had disappeared. Either that or I was too busy to notice them.

I had some work to do on my friends circle as well. The reason they seemed to be distant to me was because I stayed aloof all the time. I was too afraid to commit to a relationship, not knowing how it would turn out. I raised my commitment to make my friendship work; I called friends frequently, met up with them on weekends and kept in touch with all the people I wanted to retain in my life. Unsurprisingly, they were shocked by this sudden change, because the progress was very slow. I stuck with the plan though. Eventually, I made some headway and my social circle was resplendent.

 

A few months passed on like this. I was feeling really fit, and happy with the way my life had veered into this path. The progress I was making was good, but I still had a career to build. The recession wave had subsided, and the industries were getting back on track. All the job applications were finally paying off. I received many interview calls, and now had the choice to pick a job I would learn to love. I had been working on my basics for a long time now with the mini projects I had taken up, and therefore, most of my interviews went well. There was a new found confidence, and the fear of failing had been vanquished.

After several job offers, I picked one which intrigued me most. EduToys was an innovative startup that specialized in study aids for schools and colleges. Toys, board games, software based aids, were some of the products used to make teaching innovative, and they were really making progress. It was the brainchild of a few imaginative minds, and recession had made entrepreneurs out of these minds teeming with ideas. I could not say what it was that drew me to this job, but I wanted to be a part of something like this. I wanted to make sure that my work would mean something more than just a mode to pay my bills. The pay was substantially low as compared to the other offers I had, but I knew that this job suited me best.

 

Fate it seems has a way of standing by the brave. EduToys emerged as one of the largest educational consultants in India, amassing contracts from institutions all over. The innovations found praise in international magazines and journals, and in no time, overseas contracts were flying in. I was as happy as I could be. I was doing good work; my management skills helped me in securing a position involving substantial decision making power, and all this within a few months of starting work. Meanwhile, I kept my schedule in line with the priorities I had made, taking good care of my health and having loads of fun, at work and outside as well.

 

Today, I’m sitting in my balcony, sipping a cup of coffee; carefree and grateful for everything that life has given me. The vermillion sun across the skyline shone one last time, like a gentleman would top his hat on taking leave. I sip on the coffee, drawing on the warmth of the cup to fill me with a sense of satisfaction. I recall that eventful meeting at the coffee shop with Ketan Dev that had transformed my life. During the past few months, I had mailed him often, telling him about the progress I had made since we last met and the work I was doing, but did not get any response. I had reasoned that he must be quite busy with work or that maybe our meeting was not as eventful to him.

There are times when a simple action could lay all your doubts to rest without a word accompanying it. Last week, a parcel for me was delivered at work; there was no sender address on the parcel, and I was still in two minds whether to open it. All my questions had been allayed when I opened it. It contained a pair of leather gloves, similar to the ones I had wanted to buy in Oonad that day.

As I now hold on to the empty warm coffee cup, I smile in reverence at the tide of time. A poem composes itself in my mind, and silently the words fall into place-

“The fires of time hath burnt me in its hold,

A hapless soul for Hades to devour,

But the boldest of fires temper iron into gold,

From the ashes I arose, a resilient power.”

 

…

Chapter 12 History over coffee

 

 

The next morning, I woke up really late; the others were already getting their bags ready for that days outing. It was our last day in Oonad, and we would be heading back home the next day. My hands were still reeling under the effect of the previous days ‘hangout’, so I decided not to push my luck today.

“Guys, I’m not feeling all that well. My hands hurt a lot, I’m getting a little feverish; I think I’ll stay in. You guys go ahead.” I told them.

“Come on Andy, don’t be a spoilsport!” said Akki.

“Look, if it’s really that bad, it’s okay; we don’t want you to get ill on a trip. Relax here dude. We’ll meet you here by evening.” said Abhi.

“Yeah, you can chill here. In the evening, we can all go out for some ‘hot’ drinks. What say?” remarked Rags.

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Yeah okay guys. See you later.” I said, heading back to bed.

 

Only a few minutes had passed since the guys left, I was already wondering if I made the wrong decision. I mean, I would only get bored being here all day. Anyway, it was too late now. So, I would do the next better thing to lying down and watching TV. I thought I’d go to the city market a few kilometers away and get some brunch, and do some shopping maybe.

I caught an auto at the stand near the hotel and reached the market in less than five minutes. I had always wanted a good set of leather gloves, and I started looking for them immediately after a light breakfast. One shop I happened to pass by had beautiful leather gloves for display. I stood looking there for long, wondering if I really wanted them. Typical Andy behavior; I had gotten used to it.

“So are you planning to buy them or are you just a window shopper?” asked a familiar voice.

 

I turned around and froze. It was Ketan Dev.

 

“Hello Sir. I was just…I think I’ll pass. Leather gloves were just something that fascinated me since I was a kid. These ones are impressive, but a bit expensive.” I said, almost happy to find someone I knew, “Are you shopping too?”

“No, not really. I’m leaving this evening. So, I thought I could buy a memento for my colleagues but nothing is really interesting here.”

“Hmm.” I said.

“So, how’s your hand holding up…Andy, am I right?” said Ketan.

“Yes Sir. It’s fine; just pains a little now and then.” I said. He remembers my name, even if it was only a vague memory.

“Good. Are you in the mood for some good coffee? I know this great place close by.” asked Ketan.

“Sure Sir.” I said.

 

He led me through a maze of streets to a rustic, but rather spacious coffee shop, The Jungle Stop. The name didn’t really make sense to me, considering it was in a hill station and not a jungle, but I didn’t complain. Maybe the ornamental plants around the hotel were supposed to indicate a jungle of sorts- I don’t really know, but if Ketan Dev was recommending this place, maybe it was worth trying. We were seated in a hut-like hotel with a big balcony, overlooking the beautiful mountain ranges of Oonad; greenery sprawled out over as far as the eye can go. A few sips into my coffee, I realized that I had underestimated its value from its name. This was by far the best coffee I’d had in ages. Great coffee, nature’s lap and one of India’s top CEOs for company – I suddenly felt a sense of confidence radiate in me. I was beaming with pride at this moment, when my train of thought was broken by Ketan.

“Our last encounter was a bit abrupt, don’t you think? You told me a few incidents from your life and I probably did not respond in a manner befitting them.”

“No sir, it’s quite alright” I said. I was feeling quite magnanimous in this ambience.

“History does repeat itself Andy, but I find it ironical that I am sitting face to face with it” he said.

 

It was probably the first time that his sage like calm had disappeared to give way to a dreamier look. He was reminiscing, from his own past; I presumed.

“When I spoke to you yesterday, I felt like it was another time period altogether. Do you know the story of how we founded Dev Technologies?” he continued.

“Yes Sir, but in bits and parts.” I replied, wondering where this was leading.

“Well, ‘bits and parts’ are all that the world knows. Dev Tech was a dream that I did not know would get fulfilled some day. I was like you at one phase in my life. I must have been 25 then.” said Ketan, as I ordered another round of coffee.

He continued, “I got a job within a few months of graduation, and I always thought that once I got a job, life would be set on track. It’s funny how things turn out though. How have you been feeling since you lost your job?”

 

“I think ‘devastated’ sums it up. I feel like a loser, like nothing I do was ever good enough. Someone around me was always doing better at life, and I am stuck in a rut” I said.

“My sentiments exactly! I lost my first job too, and I had done nothing wrong. It was not downsizing like these days, but the company I worked for made a few bad compromises and the employees had to bear the brunt; 12 of us were left jobless when it shutdown.” said Ketan.

“It still didn’t bring you down, right? You weren’t letting one bad incident drag you down.” I said, rather enthusiastically.

“It was not just one incident Andy, and that is why I relate seeing you with history repeating itself. I was once in love with a girl, and we had planned to marry after I settled down. Losing that job had lead to many bad things, and losing her was one of them. She married someone else and today she’s probably leading a happy life with her family somewhere. The toll it took on my family was worse. My father was a government employee, and his retirement and my joblessness had coincided in a way I cannot quite describe. I applied for jobs in lots of companies, but there seemed to be a bias against employees of a corrupt organization, no matter how blameless we were. I felt so helpless that there were literally times I planned to end my own life.” said Ketan, lost in thought.

 

I just sat there awestruck at the proceedings. I could relate so much to what he was saying, and could now see why he was telling me this.

“I don’t know what stopped me,” he continued, “maybe it was the prospect of accepting defeat which I did not like, or maybe it was hope. For many nights at a stretch, I would sit in thought, and brood over the things that had happened. One day, after several rejections, I just decided I’d had enough. There was a need to streamline my approach to life. I planned really hard on how I would do that. I also worked relentlessly in getting approval from like-minded friends for investing in a venture I wanted to start. They were skeptical about it first, but the idea was so well planned that even they found it hard to refuse. Everyone invested small amounts, and helped me setup base. From a small shed with a few PCs and a few programmers, Dev Tech was born. Today, it has evolved to where it is now.”

 

He beamed in delight as he spoke about his journey, and I couldn’t help getting inspired on a great level. His focus shifted now to me as he sighed and started, “Listen Andy, if there is one lesson worth learning and learning early, it is to treat your disasters as your ally. Your response to them decides the course of your life. Don’t just react to things that are going wrong, learn to respond to them. You are a bright young man and have a great future ahead of you. Use this opportunity to learn from your problems, and grow from them. I know how this phase feels, but the only way to come out of it is to simply come of it – period. You just have to decide what the solution is, rather than brood over the problem.”

I nodded fervently. Every word he said was making an impact on me, and I wanted to make something out of my life as well.

“Put your career as a priority and work hard to making it great. Everything else- money, love, and happiness will follow. Plan well and execute to perfection. You will definitely succeed, Andy.” he concluded.

“Thank you Sir, I will try my best to walk the path you have shown me.” I said, too moved to say more.

“I’m leaving in a few hours, so I’d better get moving” he said, rising from his chair. “Here’s my business card. Mail me about your progress Andy. I’ll try to respond whenever I can.”

“I’ll surely do that Sir. Thank you so much for everything.” I said, shaking his hands.

 

For the first time in a long time, I had experienced something like this. On a random trip with friends, I met a man who not only rescued me but also ended up becoming my mentor. I contemplated asking him to help me out, but then decided against it. Somehow, all this seemed to be a divine plan to bring me out of this pit I was stuck in. I felt stronger and more confident from that very moment. I quietly left for my hotel, knowing that I had much work ahead of me.

 

…