Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Algorithm for stress reduction - HRD Ministry

Board exams cause stress.
So, get rid of board exams.

Students run after marks.
Replace marks by grades.

But what's a grade?
People getting a score in a pre-defined range, get the same grade.
How does that reduce stress?
A single mark does not matter.
But if he/she is on the borderline, then the impact of a single mark with a grade is much worse!

Well, we still need to select candidates for further study on 'merit'.
So, let's have a common exam.

But on what?
Let's have a core curriculum which is uniform across the country.
Just like SAT.

So, we are back to a single exam - but worse.
It is the same across all India and on a well defined narrow range!

Time to open an academy. Lots of money in helping students crack SAT!

2 comments:

  1. Wonder what is the solution. There is the need to evaluate and the need to destress - at odds with each other. (we have been increasing the stress levels of our children... I guess this is also true).

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  2. I like to believe that we need to accept stress and help children cope with it. A crucial part will be to find ways by which children can find and focus on what they like or can do. Perhaps even more important - that parents accept that the children may not be good at meeting their parents' expectations.

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