CHENNAI:The stupendous number of science centums in the SSLC examination which crossed 1.15 lakh, while making students elated, has left several in doubt as to whether these marks actually translate into knowledge. A group of academicians, concerned about how these kids would fare once they cross the threshold of the state examinations, have come out with a list of issues that they found deeply disturbing.
Skipping of Class 9 and Class 11 syllabus in haste for public exam preparation and lack of understanding of the subject are what they believe needs immediate correction.
“How can a student who has not studied classical mechanics study quantum mechanics?” questions A Marx, who is part of ‘Concerned Academics Association’ along with other school and college professors. Likewise, important topics in Geography and History are missed out in Class 9, the understanding of which would be essential for children to contribute to society.
“We are lagging behind other states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in competitive exams because of this faulty exam system,” he says. According to their data, while Andhra Pradesh had 21,818 people clearing the IIT-JEE exam last year, Tamil Nadu’s was a paltry 3,974.
Another disturbing fact is the 12th result for Physics this year having 124 centums and thousands scoring 198. “Two of the questions were objective type that required knowledge from the Class 11 syllabus, this is what they must have all got wrong,” Marx says. “As a result, several of the ‘bright’ students who have scored above 90 percent do badly and fail exams once they enter college, as they are used to rote learning,” he reasons.
The system has repeatedly been pushing out any ‘progressive’ measure like year-round evaluation, because the schools want to be able to advertise higher marks, it was alleged.
Having a public exam in Class 11, 20 percent knowledge based questions, and a trimester or semester system in Class 10, 11 and 12 are the recommendations the group plans to submit to the Department of School Education.