Govt now goes overboard on quality

Each of the 52 students in his class attend tuition classes, some spending as much as three hours there. Once home, there is homework — two separate sets, one assigned by school teachers, the other by the tuition teachers.

Father Baptist Pinto, principal, St Xavier’s High School at Marine Lines, agrees the board exam will be an additional burden and needless tension: ‘‘We are still awaiting instructions. The exam will be held in February, so we’ll need to make changes in the time table in order to cover the new syllabi.’’ However, certain schools, like King George’s School in Dadar, have begun extra classes for the Math, English and Intelligence Test papers.

Binaifer Chhoga, principal of Udayachal Primary School in Vikhroli, says: ‘‘If children in Standard X find it difficult to handle the pressure of a board exam, how do they expect Standard IV children to handle it? Parents are worried and I speak for many principals when I say we are upset too. We’re waiting for the government to say something. If each of the 43 lakh students pays Rs 40 for the exam, imagine the revenue being earned.’’

While Chhoga claims a Board exam cannot ensure quality of education, Education Secretary J.M. Phatak says the exam ‘‘will check the quality of primary education.’’

The Board exams, fear many, will also give parents new excuses to go overboard with their kids’ study. ‘‘Last year, a parent came up to me at an open meeting and said with pride that his child attended tuition classes from 4 pm to midnight. I was appalled,’’ says a Standard IV class teacher of a Central Mumbai school.

‘‘Parents compare notes, enquire how the other’s child has fared, push their children to score better,’’ she adds. The beginning of a new rat race is already evident. ‘‘My son’s school has not yet started anything. Other schools are conducting classes to prepare their students for the Intelligence Test paper. What will happen to my child?’’ she asks.

She proudly said that her son spends at least three to four hours with books. ‘‘During the exams, however, we have to sit with him all day, allowing just an hour-long break. And now with this new Board exam, I guess he will have to cut down on sleeping time,’’ she hinted at the ways of things to follow.