Journalism of Courage
Appearing for the English exam will be more like a self-expressing exercise for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) students,with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) set to change the traditional question paper format to an activity sheet.
The academic reform,to be implemented from the March 2014 board exam,aims at activity-based assessment of students rather than following an interrogative approach in place so far.
Umesh Pradhan,convener of Board of Studies for English set up by MSBSHSE,said incorporation of the activity sheet was based on the recommendations of National Curriculum Framework (NCF),which sought open-ended questioning and application of principles for constructivism.
SSC students are adolescents with emerging abilities in terms of thinking,problem-solving,rationalising and self-opinions. The idea behind introducing activity sheets revolves around the fact that youngsters have to be assessed in terms of activity-based tasks rather than an interrogative approach, he said.
The state board has put up specimen question papers comprising activity sheets on its official website http://www.msbshse.ac.in for the benefit of students and teachers.
English as a first language will be of 80 marks,with four sections to be solved in three hours. Section I deals with reading skills,vocabulary and grammar,while section II is dedicated to poetry. Rapid reading and written skills have been included in section III and IV.
Pradhan said writing activities expected from SSC candidates are more pictorial,with more tables and diagrams. Students would face lesser fear and pressure while appearing for the exam and feel the joy of self-expression,he said.
To a query on how the knowledge of grammar will be assessed,Pradhan said,The activity sheet would test functional aspect of knowledge of grammar and not the mere awareness of related rules and regulations. Grammar is the soul of any language,but its practical application is more important than rote learning of rules.
Educationist Dr A L Deshmukh appreciated the state boards initiative and said: The student-centric initiative would ensure that the aims and objectives mentioned in NCF are achieved and pave way for childrens all-round development from an early age.
New Pattern
Incorporation of activity sheet based on National Curriculum Framework recommendations,which sought open-ended questioning and application of principles for constructivism
English as a first language will be of 80 marks,with four sections to be solved in three hours. Section I deals with reading skills,vocabulary & grammar,while section II is dedicated to poetry. Rapid reading and written skills have been included in section III and IV
