Friday, September 24, 2010

Unchanged syllabus cause of concern: students


PS BALI
When, the education system has accelerated its pace through out the globe, especially in India, which has now crossed the mark of 60 percent literacy rate with Jammu and Kashmir just at 55 percent and is ending the list of most literate states of the country.
Out of the total 35 states, J&K has marked its position at number 33 just before Jharkhand and Bihar, where as Kerala and Mizoram led the tally with over 90-94 percent literacy rate. Education at the grass root level has been improved from past several years as according to the official data of Director of School Education J&K, The Literacy rate of the state is 55.5. The male literacy rate is 66.6% and the female literacy rate is 43%. There is a large gap in the male female literacy. This gap is more than the national average in 12 out of 14 districts of the state. Similarly the gap between rural and urban literacy is 22.1%. If we exclude the main urban centres of Srinagar and Jammu then this gap is further widened. There is a gap of 25% between the rural male and female literacy. In urban areas this gap is of the order of 18%. Jammu district has the highest literacy rate of 77% with 84.4% in males and 68.5% in females.
But the condition of the Higher Education here in Jammu is contradicting that of primary level. Much hyped claims of the education department of promoting education standard in the state at the international level are just bearing out bogus as the unchanged syllabus of under graduation classes of different courses is impeding the competitive mind set of the students here. When the international universities like Oxford, Cambridge and even
Indian Universities like JNU, DU, LPU and others are altering their syllabus after every two to three years, the Jammu University has not reviewed its existing Syllabus from past two decades, as alleged by students.
Whereas the University authorities are oblivion in this regard, they are even less concerned for the lakhs of students who are undergoing various courses under them.
The educationalists consider it as sheer injustice with the education sector of the state.
“Jammu University must change their syllabus with passage of time, it would be beneficial for the both students and teachers. For students change in syllabus means to learn new things with in depth information, whereas for teachers it experiences them of new horizons in teaching and keep on learning novel things,” said JU professor, wishing anonymity.
Although within past few years, higher education has succeeded to overcome the problem of infrastructure by establishing various degree colleges in far flung areas and opened new universities for the convenience of students. Right now there are five universities in J&K, which include University of Jammu, (Tawi), University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Islamic University, Kashmir. Besides this the state has more than 80 colleges.
There is no doubt that higher education has excelled as par international universities in terms of infrastructure but they still lacks the mode to improve education system. limping of more and more study centers and The change in syllabus at regular intervals of time helps student to be in touch with the current scenario and that too with insightful knowledge. For instance, students in Jammu University are still stuck to books of local authors of 19th century. They are bound to read it because their syllabus is charted out like this, but the story of student in outside universities is all over different where they follow authors of 21st century to learn various parameters of the same subject. By taking education for granted how could they expect performance from the students as par of thy universities?
“The change in syllabus is must not after two or three years but they should amend existing syllabus or reshuffle it. Our teachers teach us to compete at national and international level but we are helpless to perform superior than those who consult more than four and five books apart from academic knowledge,” said Shweta Rathore, a student of SPMR College of Commerce.
Students rued that they are fed up with the same old age books and syllabus of under graduate classes.
Score of students alleged JU administration for not taking academics seriously, they said that notwithstanding the escalating competition in the education sector, JU authorities are not amending syllabus and are imparting same from decades.
“From where does one expects good result from JU students out of state, when here we are imparted with education of 19th century, whereas students of other states fetch knowledge of today through their academics,” said Sunil Sharma, Student of MAM College.
They alleged that J&K state lacks IAS competitors because of the same reason. The aspirants have to study individually about the current situation; he craves for same in his academics as syllabus of competitive exams differs from that of ours, whereas other states have aspirants who don’t need to consult tutorials because they are imparted with latest dealings of the globe within their syllabus.
“We are still studying about Aryabhatta, Air Ships, Recession, Indian Economy and other historical events, whereas they impart education about new designs of NASA, Air Shuttle, UFOs, how to over come recession and other some up to date details in profound manner,” said Ravinder Singh, student of JU, adding that if concerned authorities are really serious about to standardize the level of education sector of the state than they have to start from the syllabus.
Though the regular students are bearing this burden, the interesting part is that the students of Distance Education are also been taught from the same syllabus.
“Change in syllabus is must one cannot expect improvement in the education system if things goes repetitive. Higher Education Department must have to take these things in concern,” said another Professor of University, wishing anonymity, adding that the students out of state are connected with up to date material because of changing syllabus, but here in J&K state, the things are stagnated.
Score of students said that existing syllabus taunts them as if things go alike they are scared that their future would be bleak. “I am concerned about my future as I don’t know what will happen to the education system of this state when the syllabus of the higher classes is festered. I am not able to compete outside state not because of my ability its because of reason that what I have been learning thoroughly from magazines, internet and other resource able accessibilities, the students out of state have been taught same in their academics,” said BBA student of SPMR College, Neha Agarwal.
Whereas, JU authorities have something different to say, denying the allegations, JU Assistant Registrar, PS Pathania, said that there is customary change in syllabus, a board of studies every year conduct a meeting in which UGC members and various heads discuss this matter.
“The amendments brought in syllabus is in accordance with the rules of UGC,” said Pathania, before posing next question Pathania disconnected phone.

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