*Screech *
I felt a soft pain when my cousin pinched me. I was at my uncles’ place for the weekend, my cousin was sitting beside me on the bed, studying for her annual exam, and she was really ecstatic about the fact that she and I, we both studied the same subject. Computer Science. She was in class 5 and I figured that she should be studying the basics of computers, things like ‘what is monitor?’, ‘what is keyboard, what is it used for?’ and similar fundamental stuff….
I was indolently staring at the same page for the last half hour from the book that I had been reading. Suddenly, I heard gentle sniff and I looked at my cousin to see what made her sniff because I was pretty sure that neither she had a cold, nor was my aunt cooking. I was surprised find a pair of wet eyes and my cousin was trying to hide it from me. I asked her what was wrong and she explained her problem to me. My cousin was very particular about scoring good marks and had a reputation of coming first which she worked hard to keep up right from her L.K.G days. The issue was very simple. She did not understand what she was studying. Being a computer science graduate myself and trusting my tutoring skills, I offered to help her.
I took the book from her and I was stunned by what was in front of me. Staring back at me was the information that even I had a tough time understanding, while I was being taught the same.
Q. What is high level language?....
Q. What is low level language?....
Q. What are the rules to define variables and constants in BASIC?
Ans. The BASIC variables should start with alpha, followed by numbers and the length of variables or constants name should not exceed 8 characters. Special characters should not be used except for dollar symbols. For non numeric character variable and constants and dollar symbol should be appended at the end.
Ex. Name$=”mohan kumar”, a$, b$
Program Input Output
10 input ab 10 run
Input 20 o/p: ?50,40
I could not believe my eyes. I turned a few more pages to have a clear idea of what a class 5 kid was expected to lean in COMPUTER SCIENCE. There were a few more pages explaining what conditional and non-conditional statements were, if loops…if then loops…nested if loops….unconditional jump statements etc.
It seemed absurd the more I tried to understand why a kid, studying in class 5 would be expected to learn such intricate material. I was in college when I knew what data, constants, variables, loops meant. I turned to my cousin and reading my expression, she said “tough, right? I am not able to understand even a single word and I cannot omit this too”. I asked her what she had understood so far about computers and she started telling me about games, mouse, keyboard, internet, Google, chatting etc. Now, I had a clear idea as to what the subject meant to her and on the contrary I held in my hands something which was Greek and Latin to her. I asked her what she understood by characters and she said “I know cartoon characters!” I could not help smiling at her innocence. Then I asked her if all this was taught, practically on a computer and she shook her head. Her state said it all.
Immediately, the dialogue by Aamir Khan in 3 idiots popped up in my mind,
“Bache, KAABIL ban KAABIL, KAMIYABI jhak maarke tere peeche aayegi!” (Meaning: Become CAPABLE and SUCCESS will automatically start following you. )
Now it got me thinking if what he was referring to was really possible in today’s world? Even if a child wanted to understand, learn and become capable, was he\she allowed doing that? I mean, how would a grade 5 student understand what ‘UNCONDITINAL JUMP STATEMENTS’ are? How will she able to know what is ‘appending $ symbols for a non-numeric data ‘? Is she mature enough to realize the importance of following the syntax in writing a program? Will a break statement be clear to a kid who is only accustomed to car\bike brakes?
I would say that the underlying Indian Education System itself is at fault. It discourages even the concerned kids who would like to become competent by understanding and applying their knowledge. They are compelled to mug, eventually, when the subject no longer applies to their level of understanding, just for the sake of scoring marks. To add to it is the parents and peer pressure. Everybody is concerned about the end result. It is ridiculous to teach a student from class 5 about BASIC language only because it is part of the curriculum that some senseless moron designed to raise the standards of their institution.
How would she understand 'BASIC' language when even the basics are not clear?
Is the claim of various institutions, today, offering ‘quality’ education just words? Does increasing the quantity or raising the bars help in anyway? Education standards should be raised not by making a child study what one studies at graduation level, but by implementing advanced teaching methodologies, inculcating good views and values in children and by supporting them to become a better person each day. At the primary level, quality education should be made available to every deserving child without the constraints of exuberant fee, donation or recommendation.
To start with, the politicians should stop considering education as a business venture and consider excellence over money. Just because knowledge is overstuffed into the Indian students’ brain, doesn’t make them superior. Consequently, children are growing tired of pursuing education.
It is no longer is the excitement about “NEW day, NEW things to learn!” but “just another day and LOADS to learn!”
*phew*
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