Gujarat’s customised coaching: Test, sort and teach

‘‘The students will take a series of diagnostic tests which will reveal their level of knowledge. After the first test, which will be held on June 30, the students will be put into A, B and C categories based on their performance,’’ Commissioner of Schools Jayanti Ravi said. The second and third tests will be held in August and September-end or October.

The diagnostic tests, developed by teachers at the Education Quality Improvement Workshop, will have objective-type questions and will be based on the previous year’s syllabus. For instance, students of Std VIII will take tests based on the Std VII syllabus.

Students who score above 80 per cent in the tests will be put into A category, between 50 and 80 per cent into B category and below 50 per cent into C category. ‘‘What we are aiming at is reduction in the number of students in C category with each diagnostic test,’’ Ravi said.

The objective of this programme is to strengthen the base of the 15 lakh-odd secondary school students in the state. ‘‘One of the reasons cited for their poor performance is their primary school foundation. It’s difficult to hold someone responsible for that. So we decided to concentrate on improving the student base. After they’re classified into the three categories, students will be given special training so that they fare better in the next test,’’ Ravi explained.

Weak students will be given special training by teachers. ‘‘Teachers will hold ‘zero classes’ or special classes on weekends for them. It may be a couple of hours before or after the regular classes. The teachers have been informed that by Diwali, no student should remain in C category,’’ she added.

There’s more. For the first time, teachers will be held responsible for the child’s performance from the very beginning. ‘‘Almost all secondary schools have a feeding channel which consists of primary schools from where students are admitted to these schools.

If a particular school has a large number of students in C category, the authorities will go to the primary schools where they studied and the principals and teachers concerned will be given a showcause notice. ‘‘As this is the first year, we not contemplating any action, but from next year, we might take action against such teachers,’’ said Ravi.