‘Pass-all rule can’t be generalised’

Otherwise elated about the clause,the one thing worrying Malati Kalmadi of Kannada Sangha,Pune,is that the clause may go against children who have learning difficulties as disabilities do not come with a time-frame. “Despite the remedial measures,there may be a child who will not be ready for the next level. It will be injustice on the child to burden him with pressure one class after the other. He will get a psychological shock when he reaches Std VIII,” said Kalmadi, secretary,Kannada Sangha.

She feels that though the government is in the final phase of implementing the RTE,awareness about the law is low. Principal of Shamarao Kalmadi High School (Aundh),Pallavi Naik,feels the decision of detaining or promoting any child depends solely on individual requirement of the child. She said though there is a team of special remedial teachers and counsellors at Kalmadi School,sometimes,the severity of the difficulty faced by the student demands that the child wait for a year. “Generalising all students is not at all fair on children who need special care,time and attention to reach the next level,” she added. Pushing a child till Std VIII introducing a blanket rule is not right,seconds Nalini Sengupta,principal,Vidya Valley School. Sengupta says the clause should be introduced with an option of giving modified papers,choice of subjects and conducting open exams for children who are not unable to perform.

Laxmi Kumar,director,The Orchid School,says the method followed in the country so far was that irrespective of how a child fares throughout the year,it was the final exam that decided the fate. “The implementation of the clause would change all that. Continuous assessment of the child and regular dialogue with parents will help schools handle children with maturity,” she stated.

Education Officer,Zilla Parishad,Prakash Parab said through the said clause,the government is asking schools to initiate the process of remedial teaching for non-performers. Parab was one of the experts to address the school principals at the RTE Seminar last month. “Remedial teaching can be effective if introduced at the right time and the time gap between teaching and evaluation is reduced,” he said.