RTE rule will erode student discipline

The school has given to society some great talent in art,music and theatre as well and continues to excel in every field.

The Jesuit institution focuses on all- round development of students by organizing many events and involving students to hone their skills.

It is an all-boys school that follows the ICSE curriculum. The principles and modules followed by school are in accordance with current changes in society and the way education can mould society and bring constructive changes.

According to the principal,“We look at education in regard to the whole of society and believe education and society are inter-related”.

The school is a member of Catholic archdiocesan Board of education and has its own festival ‘IMMACULATA’ for which students from different schools are invited for exchange of ideas and creativity.

It conducts canteen days to collect funds. The school has been funding Tribal education in remote areas of Uplat,Talisari for a long time.

An excerpt of an interview with Fr Kenneth Misquitta who has directed the school towards its achievements and heights

Please enlist the USP of your school.

What events and activities mark a student’s life?

We believe in holistic approach to education and all-round excellence in academics. We have created modules to ensure students develop their persona fully and excel in academics. Academics is the backbone of any education process and should not be neglected at any cost. Students need to prepare for future endeavours and hence proficiency in communication comes in handy. We put them through rigorous sessions in communication by involving them in numerous activities.

We believe in the age-old adage,“A healthy mind in a healthy body” and hence focus on sports,linguistic skills,literature and spiritual understanding.

Our school has been producing excellent sporting talent at the district and national levels and our coaches have been training them consistently.

In today’s difficult time,tolerance and understanding have been lost due to fast development. Hence,the new generation needs proper guidance and inputs from parents and schools to tread on the right path.

We conduct and expose children to regular church and liturgy sessions and prayers. There is always a dearth of faith in the new generation and it needs to be inculcated in them on a micro-level.

We promote artistic talent by conducting arts sessions wherein students are exposed to artistic subjects and given the liberty to pursue their calling. This has been a value addition and a positive influence on students and we hope to continue with this.

The main highlight of the school activities include dramatics,impromptu gigs and robotics.

For robotics,we selected a batch of students and had professionals from the field come in and teach our students the nuances of robotics and technology. We are a part-aided school and conducting such sessions helps our students to be technologically receptive and prepared.

Our students participate in numerous competitions and have achieved distinction in academics as well.

A healthy mix of education,sports and cultural activities makes a student’s formal education replete and successful.

The rule that states you cannot fail any student till class 8 has created quite a flurry. Is it difficult for your school to cope with? What are the measures in Place?

In today’s system of education,there are more negative fallacies than positive outcomes. Measures are implemented under the guise of helping students but what they take away is the whole meaning of education.

There are some advantages to the law passed under RTE… like no examination stress for students. But it is creating a negative outlook in them towards studies,which is bad.

Disadvantages definitely outweigh the advantages and measures should be taken to rectify the damage that will be done following its implementation.

Before the law came into effect,we had negligible number of students failing. Students would work hard and assimilate studies and perform well. A sound basic knowledge base is very important for every profession and we cannot eradicate it from the field of education. But as of now,the system has made promotion to higher classes automatic.

This is working against students as they take away from students the drive and passion for studies.

Without motivation and a drive to excel,students would not study and for that matter not excel.

They just attend school and move forward without placing emphasis on what is taught. This is a bad scenario jeopardising the system.

Schools are facing numerous problems regarding the law as discipline has gone for a toss in classrooms.

Boys don’t show interest in education and are getting wayward. New reforms are brought in by the school to evade such situations.

Looking at it in a totalitarian way,we can assume that RTE has added fuel to the existing problems.

Basically,students should take education seriously because it will add to their future growth and career and expertise in any field cannot be achieved without working hard. This principle will help schools get through and succeed in imparting education holistically.

We cannot look for any kind of punishment as well,and corporal punishment has been banned long back.

We do not propagate the idea of punishment but there is no way to bring students on track unless you dismiss their antics. The whole process is on the verge of becoming redundant and dismissive if actions are taken.

We plan to conduct numerous sessions on topics ranging from educational reforms to careers.

This has already been happening and our teachers-in-charge have been doing it consistently. We believe that external discipline is not permanent if there is no internal discipline among students.

RTE has been raising the issue of student-teacher ratio as well. They say that a ratio of 1/30 needs to be maintained. That means,we need to appoint one teacher for a batch of 30 students. It’s not remotely possible if you look at educating students and the population strength.

On an average we have a student- teacher ratio of 1:60 or 1:70 with utmost difficulty. Hence if you propose such ideas,you need to help schools figure a way to apply it as well.

The real problems in the educational sector have been brushed aside and not addressed by RTE.

Schools seem to be flummoxed because by no means can all these reforms be applied,and we value education and always welcome good reforms.

What measures are taken by the school to implement RTE’S 25% reservation in admission for underprivileged students. What is the future plan regarding the same?

To be concise and verbal,we have not received any notification and are awaiting the same. Once we receive a copy of the notification,we will proceed and outline methods and strategies to implement the same.

No hard copy of the rules/regulations has been sent. Once we get a circular,we will assess the methods. Educating the poorer sections is a primary ned we will do whatever possible from our side.

As of now,we have been following similar rules for a long time and giving admission to the destitute and needy. Those who cannot manage to pay fee are given concessions and added privileges.

Scholarships to meritorious students and fee waiver for needy students are provided.

Finances should never block one’s way to achieving education and we believe in that.

What is your take on new school bus norms and how are you implementing it? Has any committee been established to look into the affairs?

RTO has sent its circular with its specifications regarding the dos and don’ts for student safety.

It is insisting on speed governors and other measures. The bus needs to be approved by transport departments before ferrying students and contractors need clearance certificates.

These are of some value but there are many disadvantages as well.

Like,if a bus has speed governors,it cannot exceed 40 km/hr. This seems legit for city roads but fails invariably outside city limits.

These contractors ply outside city limits and are not exclusive to schools hence their complaint seems valid. How can they ferry at a speed of 40 km/hr on highways? This takes a longer time for travel.

Then they start charging schools extra fare for recovering expenses. We understand students’ safety but this is an incumbent measure and not impactful.

Hence expenses are borne by schools and parents at the end of the day and contractors make merry.

We have a committee of teachers and parents that looks into matters as these and concludes the final safety precautions.

We have installed GPRS and are in close contact with our contractors regarding student safety. We have issued verbatim guidelines to them regarding student safety.

Parents are kept in the loop about students positions because of SMS system.

Whenever a student leaves school or reaches a certain checkpoint,an SMS is sent to parents. In cases of crisis,this comes in handy as parents and attendants remain in contact and work effectively to ensure student safety.

In September every year,students are given training regarding bus rules,RSP sessions and so on.

RSP teachers coach them about the evils of not following road rules.

Tips on how to alight,how to remain orderly,how to maintain decorum and finally why not to linger around bus are taught. This goes a long way in creating a healthy psyche among students for safety rules.

We have even installed 16 CCTV cameras in the school and monitor student and their activities and to ensure their safety. We want 100 per cent student safety and have been following RTO measures.

CBSE is adopting the international curriculum. What is your take on it in accordance with IGCSE?

ICSE council is established in Delhi and all important issues related to implementation of IGCSE are taken by them.

We haven’t received any official intimation regarding IGCSE curriculum and its implementation as yet.

We will definitely follow the council’s decision as they understand the prima facie importance of allotting and allocating courses and their modules.

IGCSE is a research-based method and very fair. There is no place for rote learning in IGCSE. In ICSE,there is a balance between practical and theoretical approach.

We have projects,theoretical stuff and evaluative approach which is perfect in ICSE. Hence,we are not sure about modalities offered by the new curriculum. Retaining a bit of rote learning is important. Even doctors need to remember prescription list for medications. Students definitely are no different. They will use what they remember.

The exact procedures,training and their application have a huge involvement of rote learning. Education should be such that,it can be of practical use. Students should understand and execute the data and apply them in life.

We have excursions,experiments and other methods to make education graphic and interesting.

Memorisation is indispensable and practical exposure is important to make education formidable.

How important are extra-curricular activities?

We conduct numerous cultural activities and have started our own inter-school festival IMMACULATA,a cultural extravaganza. It is first among schools and nearly 15 schools participated in the same.

We had a set up an exact replica of an Indian village with huts,wells and students dressed up as village folks. This ensured culture was at the fore-front and students were taught about rural counterparts.

We focussed on sporting events,fine arts,performing arts and literary arts and had many winners.

We had six major sections and five events per day for two days.

We have an inter-school drama competition and numerous schools participate. We have two school grounds and use that to full use by promoting sports. Football,cricket and indoor activities are promoted. Other sports like snookers,skating,tennis are promoted and students have excelled at state level as well. We are top 5 in the state level.

We have English and Hindi debates/ elocution. We have a football fiesta for parents and staff.

We have cultural programmes and annual days where every student participates and exhibits his/her talents.

Our inter-house dramatics helmed by teachers are very grand and critical for development of students artistic talents.

Without all these activities,the whole process of education will be stunted.