Education changes at primary level in Andhra Pradesh
In this article, I have presented the system of education in primary schools of government sector from 20 years before to present time in Andhra Pradesh. In this resource, I have given a brief note on present system of education that is running in government schools in Andhra Pradesh. I have presented remedies that are to be filled up the deficiences in present education system in Andhra Pradesh.
Changes in primary education from 20 years in Andhra Pradesh:
20 years ago, there are no programmes in primary education in Andhra Pradesh. There are only unit tests and terminal exams at that time. At that time, education is strictly insisted on clever students and average students. For below average students, no interest was taken up by the teachers. But, at that time, with different methods of teaching, teachers used to try to make below average students to learn something to meet with regular stream of education.
Firstly, when APPEP(Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Project) was introduced play way method in primary education. This method became useful to pupil of below average. After this programme, DPEP(District Primary Education Project)programme was taken up by government in which QIP(Quality Improvement Programme) was introduced to revise the subjects by the pupil which had been learnt in the previous classes.
After DPEP programme, through out India, Sarvasiksha Abhiyan was taken up. That programme is running and it has extended. After QIP, CLIP(Child Language Improvement Programme) was introduced to develop language skills and mathematical operational skills. After running CLIP programme, for one year, government expected that pupil would be able to do some more competencies in the subjects. With that notion, government introduced CLAPS programme in which additional subjects such as English and environmental science are added to test the knowledge of the pupil.
After running CLAPS programme for two years, a new programme LEP(Learning Enhancement Programme) was introduced. Presently, that programme is running. Government has decided that this programme will continue up to 2015.
Remedies that to be filled up in deficiencies of present education in Andhra Pradesh:
In present education system, mainly at primary level, expectations of government are crossed the capabilities of the pupil. Due to the confusion of programmes conducted by the government teachers have dilemma that which skill to be used in their teaching. As teachers get into a stipulated frame which means they have no free to teach according to their abilities. It is surprise thing that within one year gap during which CLIP programme had been running, after that gap, government suddenly changed CLIP to a new programme, CLAPS.
However, objective of government is good. But, it has to wait for some time to get fruitful results from the pupil. In CLIP and CLAPS time, test was conducted on every month. Number of days spent for tests were more than number of instructional days. With view of that problem, government alloted time for tests for 7 times per year.
Teachers are requested to develop particular competency in children. But, when this matter taken near to government, it has no idea that competencies are interlinked. They are not learnt saparately in the children. It is advisable that government has to expect only result from particular class. After completing a class, government has to test whether the child achieve the objectives of particular class.Conclusion:
Teachers at training level, they study about the aims and objectives but not about competencies. In service teacher training should be in the direction of whatever learning at training period. New technology should be introduced but primary formation of teaching approaches should not be altered.
