Issues with teaching practices in Indian classrooms

Source: The post issues with teaching practices in Indian classrooms has been created, based on the article “Higher engagement, better learning” published in “The Hindu” on 14th March 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

News: The article discusses India’s education issues, focusing on the gap between school enrollment and actual learning. It highlights the need for more engaging teaching methods and better teacher training to improve student learning and classroom engagement.

What is the current state of education in India?

Enrollment is high: 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds are in educational institutions.

Reading levels are low: One-fourth of students can’t fluently read a text meant for second graders.

For more information read here

What are the issues with teaching practices in Indian classrooms?

One-Way Communication: Many classrooms in India don’t engage students effectively, impacting their motivation and learning. Classes are typically teacher-led with minimal interaction or feedback from students.

Rote Learning Dominance: There’s a heavy reliance on memorization rather than understanding concepts, limiting critical thinking skills.

Teacher-Centered Approach: Teaching often focuses on a few students, usually those in the front rows, ignoring others.

Passive Learning: Students mostly copy from the board and answer in unison, leading to low cognitive engagement.

Poor Attendance Link: Low student attendance demotivates teachers, further reducing engagement efforts.

For more information read here

What should be done?

Interactive Classrooms: Shift to a teaching model where every student participates and engages actively in discussions and problem-solving.

Practical Teacher Training: Improve teacher education to be more hands-on, with a focus on engaging students, not just theoretical knowledge.

Individualized Teaching: Encourage teachers to understand each student’s needs, customizing their approach for more effective learning.

Foster Student Autonomy: Allow students more choices in learning to increase engagement and ownership of their education.

Address Systemic Issues: Improve governance and resource allocation in the education system to support these changes.

Question for practice:

Examine how the current teaching practices in Indian classrooms are affecting student learning and engagement.