Overhauling education system: A long overdue necessity

The Government recently released its Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework which seeks to ensure that children receive quality education from the early stages of life by guiding preschool teachers towards a child-centred, play-based and inquiry-based approach to learning.

The Framework titled “Starting Right” includes teacher and activity guides aimed at strengthening inquiry-based and activity-based learning in preschools has been launched under the Government’s new education reform program.

The guides are designed to provide preschool teachers, trainers and other stakeholders with practical guidance on introducing activity-based learning through play and other age-appropriate learning tools and will come into force form next year.

The initiative is being implemented under the leadership of the Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry and the Women and Child Affairs Ministry, with support from institutions including the National Institute of Education and UNICEF.

Along with the preschool framework, the new school module system will also come into effect next year for some grades, all of which are aimed at drawing children away from only textbook focused education systems.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya who is also the Education Minister is leading the changes in the sector which is in need of a major overhaul. She has got it right in understanding the excessive pressure being put on children due to the education system which only focuses one academics and not in developing other talents of children.

From the rat race of getting a child admitted to a so-called ‘popular’ school to the Grade Five scholarship examination and then the Ordinary and Advanced Level examination, students are being pushed by parents and teachers to only get good grades with little focus on the tool it takes on the mental health of a child.

At the recent Grade Five scholarship examination day, all the attention given to it in the media exposed part of the problem. With the limelight put on the exam, students were made to feel that this exam was the be all and end all for them and at such a young age giving undue importance to such an examination by both parents and teachers no doubt puts tremendous pressure on a child.

During the debate this week on the Bill to amend legislation relating to the employment of women, young and children, the Prime Minister said that children should be given adequate time to enjoy their holidays, ensuring their mental health and rest.

She also noted that while compulsory education up to the age of 16 is there by law, retaining children within the school system is becoming an increasing challenge with a declining trend among boys remaining in education beyond the age of 16.

The reason that children lose interest in pursuing school education after 16 is largely to do with the fact that those who do not get good grades are relegated to the background and made to  feel inferior while some of their colleagues get ahead. There is little in the system to draw these children  back into the system and retain them with focus on other aspects than purely academics.

It is hoped that the school module system will help to wean students’ way from purely textbook based education into a more relaxed system where they can explore the arts and sciences in a more inquiry-based manner that brings out the hidden talents of the students.

Along with education, schools should also focus on moulding students into good citizens. Being pushed into an unnecessary rat race early in life rarely turns children into a well-rounded person and instead makes them more self-centred and exploitive later on in life. Hence the need for a better overall education system including early education, schools and higher education.