Chennai: When the Madras High Court recently ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to publicise in media that stringent action would be taken against institutes not following the board’s two subjects and no homework rule for classes one and two students, it has created a buzz among CBSE schools in the State.
When ‘News Today’ enquired with a couple of CBSE schools’ management, they say that the parents want their kids to be taught more.
The CBSE had ordered that it would follow only the syllabus and books prescribed by the National Council Of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
In regard to this the apex school education body issued circulars on 15 September 2004, and on 12 September 2016, saying there should not be any homework assigned to students of classes one and two. Similarly, only two subjects should be taught to them – mother tongue and mathematics.
According to CBSE affiliation bylaws, schools affiliated to the board must satisfy its advisory saying no school bag and no homework for students up to class two. However, allegations were raised against schools that they are not abiding by the rules.
City-based educationist S Muthukumarasamy said,”As per UNICEF standards, a kid does not require any subject knowledge except his or her mother tongue until 10 years. Only Finland is following this system completely. While many developed countries have partial acceptance. When CBSE came close to that, the schools are not ready to implement it.”
He also highlighted the words of justice Kirubakaran who asked the CBSE,”Over 18,000 schools are affiliated to CBSE, but the board has a staff strength of only 1,200. With such a low staff how could you ensure implementation of rules?”
A top CBSE official said,”It is not very easy to keep a track of all schools in the State. The CBSE’s Chennai zone does not even have regional officers across Tamilnadu. We are working on a mechanism to implement the processes.”
The board also stated that in compliance of the directions of the high court it is once again reiterated that schools may ensure that no homework is given to students.
It is also reiterated that since NCERT is an academic authority for classes 1 to 8, all schools may ensure that CBSE circular dated 17 April, 2007, on reducing the satchel load and homework for children, is scrupulously followed.
But, schools point their fingers at parents.”The parents expect us to load students with knowledge. They want us to teach them science, social and general knowledge. Even Hindi is one of their expectations,” said a private school principal from Vadapalani.
She also said that parents also question teachers if the students are not given any homework. “They do not want their children to play at home,” the principal added.
But parents have a mixed reaction. What taught in the class, can be repeated as home works. But, assigning projects are too much for children considering their age. In most of the cases, parents are doing the project works for their wards. The children even do not know what it is and simply submit it to the class.