HSLC results: it’s time to ponder

HSLC results: it’s time to ponder

— Dr. Jyotsna Bhattacharjee

The results of the HSLC examination, 2008 were announced by SEBA on May 27. It was a day of joy and sorrow - joy for the successful candidates and sorrow for those who could not succeed. Out of 2,39,606 candidates 140,618 candidates came out successful. Out of hem 17,084 secured first division, 29,714 secured second division and 93,820 third divisions. The pass percentage is 58.68. It is encouraging to note that the pass percentage has increased noticeably from last year’s 54.93.In spite of the improved percentage there have been a huge number of failures. It is true that there must be failures in any examination - but if they are too many it is time to ponder over the matter. Nearly one-lakh students could not cross the line of success. However encouraging is the maxim that “failures are the pillars of success”, there is no doubt that it does not help in mitigating the sufferings of the failed students in any way. The question naturally arises in the mind - what would these failed students do? What is the reason of such a colossal number of failures? The answers may be too many.One does not need extraordinary intelligence or skill to get through the HSLC examination - or any examination for that matter. Most people and teachers squarely blame the students for their dismal performance. Nasty politics has vitiated the sanctity of these abodes of learning and the pupils forget that they are mere students and not some die-hard politicians.In today’s scenario education is not taken as an object of worship by the students - it has been relegated to a secondary place. In the past the students believed education to be the cherished ideal for them - through which they could get knowledge and also a better future. But today there are diverse channels through which the students can gain fame, money and other luxuries of life. Education has become a means for higher success in various fields and it is no longer an end in itself - as it was once. It is also obvious that politics has played havoc in student’s life. Any issue is good enough to call for a bandh and abstain from classes and also to indulge in violence.Indiscipline in schools and colleges has sapped the very foundation of education. Morality has almost disappeared from these temples of learning. Students forget that they are not some die-hard politicians, but are mere learners in this vast world of education. Television has made a big impact on the life of a student - even a little child is not free from its vicious grip. There is no doubt that TV shows have done immense harm to the students. It is very true that it also puts up educative programmes, which would benefit the young minds. But none seems to be interested in these programmes - they appear to be more interested in these silly mindless presentations where scantily clad females perform titillating dances with chocolate faced heroes, who appear to have the capacity to vanquish a gang of strong bodied, evil-looking ruffians with their bare tender hands.The young children see villains killing people, raping women, cheating people and doing all sorts of evil deeds. These pogrammes are highly infelicitous to the young minds. When crimes are increasing by leaps and bounds, it is not at all good to give ideas to the immature young people. They have hampered education to a great degree and all these frequent agitations lure away the students from their study table.Our examination system has become similar to a fruit-squash manufacturing factory - where a little juice is squezed out and heaps of squeezed pulps are thrown out as waste products. Out of lakhs of students only a small number come out successful with first division. At a time when you have to get more than 80 per cent marks to get into a reputed institute of your choice, you can’t help wondering what fate lies ahead of these unfortunate second and third divisioners, who may have limped over the wall - but could not quite reach the goal.Without beating about the bush, it must be admitted candidly that the average standard of teaching and training in most of the schools is not adequate. They are staffed by teachers of low calibre. In fact, there can be noticed a decisive indifference and lack of dedication in the teachers. There is much truth in the saying that a teacher is born and not made. They have become more interested in earning money by private tuition - than teaching in the classrooms, where they are employed and from which they get the salary. The relation between the teacher and the student has deteriorated to such an extent that the student forgets the teachers the moment he steps out of the school or the college, and the teacher does not know half his students. What can we expect from such a teacher?In fact, the brilliant examination results of the student do not in any way reflect the standard of the institute where he studied, but they do indicate the sincerity and the dedication of the candidate, the effort and the care of the parents, and - perhaps the coaching of the private tutor. The parents frantically search for reputed schools for glamour and success. In most cases they deliver the goods - to keep up their past reputation. The private tutors once upon a time were unheard of - nobody, not even the wealthy, ever thought about engaging a private tutor for his child. But now private tuition has become a necessary adjunct to educational process of a student. Even those who cannot afford to spend their hard-earned money on the private tutor do that with the hope that it would be essential for the success of the student in the examination. Many of the successful students freely admit that they had several teachers for each subject. Now we see private tutorial homes littered in all parts of the city. It has become a flourishing business for some – as it does not need any investment in opening a tutorial centre - though the quality and standard may not be up to the mark.But all the students do not belong to the wealthy families and hence cannot afford the luxury of engaging a private tutor. Yet many of them do come out successful with flying colours. That proves that private tuition is not that important, as the parents believe. The question naturally comes to the mind - if these tutors can so successfully teach the students in the private coaching classes, why can’t they do so in the institutions where they are employed and from which they draw a monthly salary. We did not have any private tutors in our student life - and our teachers were always ready to help us whenever we had any problem without any fee. But now it has come to a stage when the private tutors have become an indispensable factor in an educational system. They have become necessary appendage for the success of the student. I personally do not think that private tuition is at all necessary for the success of a candidate. If he/she is regular in attending classes, and if the teachers are dedicated and sincere in the job then there is no necessity of any private tuition. Too much spoon-feeding is not good for the child. Private tuition destroys the natural intelligence and ability of a student.The problem is not ovee rafter the HSLC examination - rather it deepens further. Parents have to get their sons and daughters to the Higher Secondary courses in some ‘good’ institution, and stream of their choice - unfortunately without taking into account the wish of the applicants themselves. Even before the results are out they start knocking at the doors of various institutions. Naturally they aim at the best - and if not the best at least the scond or third best would have to do. Third divisioners usually search for jobs in any capacity. And the second divisioners hover around trying to grab opportunity.In the present world of ours there is no scope for simple average students. One has to be very shrewd, very rich and very manipulative to become successful. Without these ‘qualities’ it has become difficult to succeed in life. Even those with fairly satisfactory mark sheets spend precious time hanging around street corners. They learn about the value of money-power. It doesn’t matter where or how you get in - but you must manage. Young people, partly in frustration and partly in anger against an unfeeling society get into all sorts of mischief - and all sorts of social evils emerge as a consequence. We are giving too much importance on job-oriented education, ignoring the moral education. To make a complete man the children must be given moral lessons from the very childhood. But since ‘example is better than precept’ morality can be demonstrated only by examples and not by lectures. Without morality no education can be complete. It is true that at a time when the whole nation is steeped in corruption it seems to be ludicrous to talk aout morality. Yet it is also a fact that the present situation, which we see, is due to the total depravity of the nation. If the parents are corrupt they cannot teach the child the value of honesty. There may still be some honest people amongst us, who should take lead in bringing out the nation from the present holocaust. Without morality a nation cannot survive in the long run. Hence education without morality may remain a meaningless exercise.
(The writer is former Head of Philosophy, Cotton College)