An exploration of why children are learning little in classrooms

News: It has been observed that a massive proportion of children are lacking in basic language and mathematics. The same thing has also been noticed by National Education Policy.

Why do children between 0-6 yrs are lacking in basic language and maths?

Capacity to learn: All children have the capacity to learn. Some disabled children may not have this capacity.

More children in class: Perhaps children are distracted from learning and do things that interest them more, like social interactions with their friends.

Financial condition: There can even be external distractions like hunger, disturbed home environment, and other obstacles created by poverty. For instance, a lack of basic learning is often found in children from poor families.

What should be the way forward?

First, The perception that “children of the poor are dull and never learn’ should be changed. Teachers should understand that all the children have the capacity to learn

Second, Curriculum should be updated according to the interests of the children. Teachers should also make the curriculum more excited and interesting

Third, Teachers should understand the obstacles which children are facing and should be sensitive towards that specific obstacle that each child faces.

Fourth, the Stakeholders approach should be adopted where the schools will be equipped with adequate resources and hunger should not be a problem in education.

Source: This post is based on the article “An exploration of why children are learning little in classrooms” published in Livemint on 3rd February 2022.