Promises galore to revamp edu sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revival of activity-oriented curriculum with special focus on continuous assessment, a relook into pass system followed in schools and steps to ensure timely delivery of textbooks and compulsory yoga training for students aged below 15 are the key poll promises for education sector in Kerala, made respectively by LDF, UDF and the NDA.
The LDF manifesto has made it clear that the changes implemented by the UDF government in the school curriculum would be dumped. “The attempts made to derail the curriculum revision started by the LDF government would be rectified. The changes made (by the UDF) in curriculum and teaching-learning practices would be put under stringent scrutiny ,“ it said.
In view of reports that several school students fail to achieve even minimum standards in Mathematics and English, the LDF manifesto promised to enhance the ability of students to absorb knowledge through continuing evaluation methods. Like in the previous years, the Left manifesto also promised a new legislation to ensure socio-academic control over self-financing institutions.
The UDF manifesto also promised special programmes to improve the quality of school education and steps to improve research activities in higher education sector. Apart from a promise that pass promotions in school classes would be revisited, the UDF manifesto also promised steps for evaluation of educational qualities of students at regular intervals.
It also promised to use six percent of the GDP for education sector. Of this 1.5 to 2 per cent would be utilised for higher education. Distribution of free bicycles to all girl students in Class VIII and distribution of laptops to govtaided college students at subsidized rates are other promises.
BJP announced a string of programmes in the name of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, to turn the state into an education hub. The NDA manifesto promised a comprehensive overhauling of curriculum and stated that active participation of parents would be ensured. There will be trainingawareness programmes for parents in schools every two weeks.