Dear Mr. Rajeev Kumar
Chaturvedi,
After months of uncertainty and indecisiveness of the HRD Ministry and
the Central Government, we have a full time Chairman in you.
All of us: students, teachers, Principals, Mentors, Managements and the
Society at large have many expectations from you. We are aware that you as
Chairman of the largest Central Board of Education will have your primary focus
‘School education in CBSE Affiliated Schools.’
CBSE has been engaged in Research & Development, Assessment,
Pedagogy, Quality Accreditation, Training and played role as also looked for
space in Higher Education and Sills for Work.
CBSE Scheme of CCE though introduced with pious objectives has suffered
like other schemes and needs an immediate re-look. The Formative Assessment of
the present scheme is an eye-wash and has neither been diagnostic nor remedial.
Schools have used paper pencil tests more frequently now and grading them has
been a mere formality. By the way, adding these marks/Grades in cumulative
assessment is against the very basic principle of Formative Assessment, which
is “assessment for learning.’ Children read CCE as “Chotay Chotay Exams’ and
teachers speak of it as: ‘Confusion Confounded Everywhere.”
CBSE has shelved the SQAA Scheme. The very introduction was challenging
the Apex Body for Quality Promotion and Assessment: Quality Council of India.
Many Schools have applied and paid even a Fee of Rs 55000/ but never heard from
the CBSE.
Capacity Building Programs for In-Service Training of Teachers on a
regular basis have been entrusted to CBSE Centers for Excellence without caring
for either the location of a School or developing a cadre of trainers and
Master Trainers.
The Sahodaya movement has become a showpiece of ‘Rising Together’ to
ensure that we pull down one another. The rat race of competition among
affiliated Schools has led to several malpractices.
CBSE Affiliation Bye Laws are more violated than followed. There is no
pay parity and teachers are exploited at will and parents fleeced. Adhoc
appointment, non-adherence & even absence of Service Rules, hire & fire
policy, attrition of staff, dynasty run schools with total family control are
making education a business without any scruples.
There are exceptions as we have a very large number of GOOD SCHOOLS and
we have sufficient examples of Good Practices and these ought have been
benchmarked. Instead schools and the managements derive vicarious pleasure in
‘not caring’ and are becoming a power unto themselves.
Absenteeism, irregularity, indiscipline and insecurity prevails and
CBSE watches helplessly, giving a feeling that it indirectly promotes all this.
We have full faith that in the coming four years of your tenure. We
hope you will catch the bull by the horn and eradicate the present bureaucratic
system and have an open, fair and transparent: student friendly, teacher
supportive Board and the managements are made accountable.
Lead us and the nation please, out of the existing chaos.
