CHENNAI: To help bring changes in the education system, academicians and students from over 100 schools in the state got met at Loyola College to discuss the probable changes that can be introduced. “The need of the hour is to examine the education that we provide students apart from academics,” said Venkatesh Athreya, former acting vice-chancellor and registrar of Bharathidasan University, while addressing the gathering. Educationists at the symposium highlighted 13 points apart from inviting suggestions and inputs from the audience.
Some of the topics discussed were the values that are taught to children, the role of teachers in imparting this knowledge, and how technology can be used for education. “There has to be comprehensive, quality and regular accreditation and assessment of schools,” said SS Rajagopalan, an educational activist. “Educators and aspiring teachers belonging to SC, ST and other marginalised groups must be trained too,” he added.
V Vasanthi Devi, former vice-chancellor of M S University, Tirunelveli stated that despite having aiming to educate all children, the country still needs to progress. “As educational activists we have to protect and preserve democracy and its values. We cannot allow corporations, religion, or politics to ruin it. All that we dreamed and advocated was the Kothari commission which propagated common schools and a percentage of GDP spent for education. We have never reached 6.5 per cent of GDP. Not only is there a departure, but there is a deep erosion.”