When the whole education
department of Nagaland is actively involved in proposing suggestions for the
proposed new education policy of Govt. of India, I would like to draw the
attention of the readers to an unhealthy practice being followed by many schools
in Nagaland. The Nagaland Board of School Education had introduced the practice
of conducting Selection Test for the students of permitted schools (schools
under observation before granting recognition) with a view to ensure proper
transaction of curriculum to its students. But this evaluation tool of NBSE was
misused my majority of the recognized schools in the state. The selection test
was used as a tool to screen out the weak students in classes 10 and 12 so that
the schools could boost of better results in the HSLC / HSSLC examinations.
Last year NBSE has abolished the practice of
conducting selection test to screen out the weak students and introduced the
concept of conducting Model Test compulsorily at the end of the academic year so
as to update and improve the performance of students. But many schools still continue
to screen out weak students with least concern for the rules laid down by the
highest academic authority (School Education) of the state.The high dropout ratio(30%) in
class X is definitely a matter of great concern for all of us. Interestingly,
school authorities are taking shelter under a provision provided by the NBSE
which states that registered schools (recognized or permitted) may debar a
student from appearing at the final examination if there is no sign of academic
improvement or if the student has a deteriorating performance in the
weekly/monthly tests and terminal examination. But unfortunately this provision
which has to be invoked very cautiously by the school authorities is being
misused casually. If a student declared Qualified at class IX promotion
examination shows no sign of academic improvement or has a deteriorating
performance in class X, it may be due to some serious adverse situations at
home or school. Therefore, concerned school authorities should analyze such cases
and initiate appropriate remedial measures before resorting to the extreme step
of debarring students from appearing final examinations. Moreover, we should
also keep in mind the financial burdens that would be imposed on parents while
debarring students from appearing final examinations.
I remember an incident
happened nearly some 20 years ago in South India. A student who was not allowed
to appear the HSLC examination by the school authorities approached the concerned
state High Court seeking justice. The HC had asked the school authorities only
2 questions. Whether the student had passed the class 9 promotion examination
and had secured the required attendance in class 10? When the school authorities answered ‘Yes’,
the High Court had ruled that the school has No authority to debar the student
from appearing the board exam unless serious disciplinary issues are involved. Comparatively
the people of Nagaland have more respects and regards for teachers and that is
why such court cases are not common in our state.
When NBSE is marching ahead
with the developed states by introducing many pupil friendly measures such as
conduct of immediate HSLC Compartmental Examination, providing Photostat Copies
of HSLC/ HSSLC Exam answers scripts etc, the school authorities should explore
all possible means to help children to come out of their struggles and
resorting to the extreme steps should be considered only when all possible
efforts are exhausted.
