Bricks in the wall maybe, but not to be used as brickbats.

Here we go again. Another committee of so-called experts to suggest changes to school education. Our poor children have become guinea pigs for experiments, not for their benefit, but for small-minded political reasons. So what does this learned board recommend? It suggests a " futuristic curriculum ". What does that mean? Does it mean teaching computer programing, robotics or the basis of space travel? At the same time the committee recommends reducing " curriculum load " and encouraging " self learning ". How are children supposed to teach themselves 'futuristic' stuff? Majority of our children go to government schools where teachers are of poor standard, are used for supervising elections to municipalities, assemblies and parliament, and for ensuring midday meals are cooked properly, or face prison if any child suffers food poisoning. The learned committee recognises that learning in mother-tongue is the best but then goes on to propose that all children must learn Hindi, English and Sanskrit. Why Hindi? What about children in Assam, Gujarat or Tamil Nadu? India has 22 official languages, each with rich literature, music and culture. Granted Hindi has the largest number of speakers, because of the highest fertility rates in Hindi speaking states, and is widely understood, because of the popularity of Bollywood movies, but children with different mother-tongues will be at a natural disadvantage if forced to study in Hindi. " While the mother tongue can continue to be the medium of instruction, the study of Hindi is desirable to bring all Indians together as citizens of a single nation," says the report. This is clearly a political statement, to be condemned without hesitation. Tamil Nadu will not tolerate imposition of either Hindi or Sanskrit. They believe that Tamil is an older language than Sanskrit. Lastly, they recommend that students should be allowed to take Class XII Board exams from the internet, on demand. With millions of children how will anyone supervise candidates to prevent cheating? The main debate is about whether children should be failed or allowed to progress even if they have learnt less than their peers. What is most amazing is that all these concerned people do not seem to understand that each child has different capabilities and so some will need more attention than others, which is not possible when numbers are overwhelming. Clearly, the system needs to improve, but not by dumbing it down, which will hold back the brilliant students. After all 400 years ago Shakespeare went to an elite Grammar school. Finally, showing the prejudice and politics in our education system, a principal writes that children fail because " We are a caste-based hierarchical society ". Now he tells us. So, get rid of Hindus and the problem is solved. So easy.