The verdict is a ‘ridiculous’ idea

Educationists and parents have slammed the idea of Board exams in Class V as 'ridiculous and absurd', reports Joyeeta Ghosh.

Educationists and parents have slammed the idea of Board exams in Class V as 'ridiculous and absurd'.

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"It's just not possible," said Shakuntala Chanda, principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Andrews Ganj. "Even though our school is located in such a good location, we still face the problem of dropouts and low enrollment rates. If board exam is According to Delhi Mayor Kanwar Sain's proposal, all schools -- private, government or Municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD)-run - would hold board exams in class V.

Sain said the idea behind introduction of boards in class V was to improve the level of primary education.

He said since the class X board is also being scrapped, there is no mechanism to screen the students. Sain, who is also not in favour of the grading system, said the board exams in class V will ensure that teachers work harder.

But the idea has been given thumbs down by all.

"It is absolutely absurd and refutes all theories of learning," said Jyoti Bose, principal, Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan.

She said this was in total

contradiction to the change in education system that educationists across the country and the government are trying to bring in.

“With the new grading system, we are trying to ensure the holistic development of the child but with such regressive ideas all the students will be back to learning by rote,” Bose said.

Prithvi Raj Sawhney, chairman of Education Committee, MCD schools, said: "I feel the present system of evaluation is fine and we do not need to make any changes."

Parents too are not amused.

“It’s ridiculous to even think of board exams in class V,” said Anupam Kaul, a parent whose daughter studies in class IV.