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Government Stress On English Education, Foundation Should Be Strengthened From Primary Level

By pardeep3dec, Section Education
Posted on Sat Oct 13, 2007 at 12:44:16 AM EST

In a report submitted to Calcutta High Court, the state education department has stressed on strengthening students' foundation in English right from the primary level.

The report was submitted in the court of Justice Biswanath Somadder on behalf of the school education secretary on Friday. He had directed the school education department to submit the report after 13 students of Belghoria Jatin Das Balika Vidyalaya, who failed in English in this year's higher secondary examination, had filed a writ in the high court.

Appearing for Rupsa Chowdhury and 12 other students, advocate Ekramul Bari submitted that more than 100 HS examinees had failed in English this year, securing only 14 to 20 marks out of 100.

The judge directed the education secretary to submit a detailed report after a thorough inquiry. It said students should learn English right from the primary level through activities that make learning a joyful experience. "This should be done with all the sensitivity required, considering that English is a second language," it said.

This apart, the report suggested ways in which students should be taught the language. "Students should be made to acquire more skills and confidence in independent and creative composition in English. For this, verbosity is to be avoided and vocabulary strengthened but not unnecessarily," the report recommended. The report also observed that HS is the stage for skilful composition and presentation in the language. It is also the stage to acquire a knowledge of classics. For this, the foundation in English should be robust.

During the inquiry, the secretary held a meeting with the school authorities in presence of the HS council and four English teachers. There, the teachers failed to satisfy the secretary when asked questions on the matter.

Holding that the teachers should take their job seriously, the report suggested that they should be trained and the syllabus needed to be carefully explained to them.

It has been made clear in the report that if more than 30% HS candidates of a school fail in a subject for three years, the concerned teachers should be held responsible. The onus lies with the headmaster to ensure that students acquire a basic standard in every subject. The report also asked teachers to take their job seriously.

The court expressed satisfaction with the report and directed the chief secretary to implement the recommendations in consultation with the school education secretary.

Source: The Times of India, 13th Oct,2007

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