Exam and Peace (The Indian Express)

Mains Paper 5: Governance
Prelims level: Pragmatism
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context

•  As the board examinations approach “success” and “failure” begins to haunt young learners anxiety-ridden parents pattern of education pathological.
•  We dislike experimentation and new possibilities, and make a superficial distinction between “pragmatism” and “idealism”.
•  We have become used to the routinisation of the practice of glorifying the “success stories” of the “toppers”, “suicide narratives” of those who could not bear the stigma of “failure”.
•  Everything would function as usual “black education” would flourish in coaching centres, the publishers of “guide books” would make a lot of money, and school principals heavily burdened with the “ranking” of their schools insecure parents “cut off points” for admission in “branded” colleges, the future is bleak without 99 per cent in English, or 100 per cent in Physics.

Why is it so?

•  Here is a system that closes the mind of the young learner.
•  How are choices possible if schools Science or economics for the “intelligent” ones, and humanities for the “leftovers”?
•  Pass through the most travelled “Aakash/Fitjee/IIT” highway, and all other paths are “risky” and “impractical”, particularly in a society like ours traumatised by an acute sense of scarcity?
•  It is impossible for one to opt for, say, Physics, History and Music.
•  Not surprisingly, then, schooling prepares the ground for an alienated existence.
•  Here is a system obsessed with the quantification of knowledge and evaluation.
•  A careful look at weekly tests, classroom transactions and summer projects.
•  Be a strategist memorising the bullet points reduce everything. It is essentially war.

Conclusion

•  While the “successful warriors” join the IITs and colleges like LSR, Presidency and Stephen’s those who are not so lucky would be compelled to realize that it is painful to be young, wounded and stigmatised.
•  Though there is no peace in this system, even if schools hire counsellors, invite motivational speakers, and ask children to read self-help books in their “relaxed” times.
•  As the lifeworld gets increasingly colonised by the market. Education becomes merely a “performance” a packaged good for sale.

Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider the following statements about the Central Vigilance Commission:
1. Central Vigilance Commission consists of chairperson and not more than two members.
2. Salary, allowances and other conditions of services of the Central Vigilance Commissioner are similar to those of chairperson of UPSC.
3. The jurisdiction of the CVC does not extend to managers and above in general insurance companies.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 3 only

Answer: A

Mains Questions:
Q.1) CRITICALLY ANALYZE THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM.