The school system throughout the world is under deep scrutinyespecially in India. HRD ministry’s latest circular regarding decreasing/reviewing whole academic curriculum shows the urgency of thoughtful perusal and brain storming.
Today,school are expanding their boundaries to make their student enable face the challenge of next decade at global level.
The school ecosystem may be defined as a systematic community comprises of all stakeholders within and outside influencing factors.it encompass the activities ,interaction among faculty, IT, educational department, society ,which form a meta- population and inhabit the same milieu.It also have influence of building, facilities,resources and teaching – learning environment.
Let us assume 4 dimensionof thissystem thatrequires the specific structure of policies:-
1. Education frame work.
2. Teaching and learning pedagogy.
3. Technology,system and practices.
4. Economics and social viability.
5. Safety and security policy.
1. Education Framework:- It is quite evident from the experiences from Indian education system that how “ Trial & Error methods” have damaged the whole education frame work in the country.
As per the Best education systems in the world its imperative to have a good teacher training policy which make a trained graduate teacher, capable enough to handle the dynamics of changing expectations of society and country. Finland and Singapore are the examples where government policies put stress on having excellent educators and they invest significant percentage of budget on “Teacher – Education “.Another important aspect is to train the teacher develop their own teaching philosophy through reflective, dialogic, collaborative and experimental learning activities.
Ofcourse incentives and honour of a teacher is considered “prime” in the society as the system believe best people,become best teachers and they propagate and propel the country with best possible pace.
2. Teaching and learning Pedagogy:-
A clear and continuous teaching and learning pedagogy must be based on meeting desired learning outcomes. The policy paralysis has compelled the Indian education system to promote rote learning and comparing exam scores based on typical limited and expected answers.
Exploration and design think (out of box thinking)have gone for a toss in the system. Appropriate policy and measures are to be framed else the system is preparing listeners and rite learners with an approach of “plagiarism”,unknowingly.
HRD ministry’s step of taking feedback from all concerned stakeholders is a welcome step. Let’s hope and wish that the outcome will be as per the need of the coming decade.
3. Technology, System and Practices:-
The natural flow of technology has created a desired awareness among all the stakeholders and they got an opportunity to be in touch through school ERP’s, Moodle and ICR portfolios.
Hence a desirable orientation has become the part of strategy to overcome the high aspirations of parents. Now LED touch screen has arrived in class rooms yet the rich content and scope must be reviewed. Students must be taught social media communication etiquettes.
4. Economics and Social Viability:-
The unprecedented changes in last decade calls for wide- ranging reforms to make education system viable enough to create “creativity” and employment generation.
The rapidly changing industrial demand required people equipped with entrepreneurial and innovative skills. The dream of startups on mass scale can be fulfilled by including correct vocational education from school level. The education system must also take steps to proper individuals toward their economic goals and desired social outcomes.
The appropriate inclusion of soft skills and life skills has become inevitable to keep pace with changing dynamics of economy. Theseskills will be most important by 2025 onwards as most of employments will be replaced due to automation and artificial intelligence.
5. Safety and Security:-
Tiny tots have become more vulnerable in school campuses this is due to lack of resilience capacity in young teen students.
School not only must adhere to the safety and security norms so that fearless academic environment may engage students in productive and positive activities.
Emotional health hazards is more dangerous as per the UNCIEF report 2013 , 30%-40 % of students gone through the trauma of abuse and 76% of them being abused during childhood or adolescence, School’s must educate children to be cautious to oppose such advances. Students are subject to hurt and trauma in the age of below 5 years that to in developed nations.Other than having child friendly infrastructure, compassion, concern, support, care are the important ingredients to provide safe ecosystem in school.
