Childhood is great. College is awesome. The transition phase of High School is troublesome!
High School is that stage of a student’s education where one has to hold their nerves and resist temptations in order to have a successful life. It is also known as the transition period, the terminal point of school education and a bridge between school and college, high school for a student is both the most enjoyable period and the most tormenting period.
At this age, students are growing fast both physically and mentally. They are full of energy, aspiration, zeal and zest. However, they are also under huge pressure to perform well in their final examinations so that they secure admissions in good colleges. They need to select good coaching institutes which can groom them properly.
The emphasis on high school grades and marks is immense. Parents, teachers, and relatives rally around a student and are always interested in their performance.
Since admissions in intermediate colleges and other institutions are dependent on high school grades and marks, parents, schools, and teachers unknowingly put in a lot of pressure on students. Though most of this pressure is unavoidable, certain schools take up unique initiatives to ensure good all round development without affecting the grades.
High school education is generally defined by the guidelines of the principle of continuity, which is used to develop
curriculum, books, teacher training and equipment. In our Indian context, the Department of School Education & Literacy under the Ministry of HRD has certain clear cut goals that focus on education drive.
The policies include provision of IT education, inclusive education, merit scholarships, financial assistance, and vocational education. This is of course a broader perspective that the institution has. When it comes to the private system of education, the goals and aspirations are totally different. Private educational institutions aim at grades, marks, and better performance in examinations.
There is emphasis on overall development in the elementary schools, but when the students reach the seventh class, the scenario changes entirely. Suddenly, mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry become super important. Languages, social studies, and other subjects become grade improving subjects and mean nothing more.
A major reason for this is the availability of jobs in the technology industries that demand expertise in the above mentioned subjects. Since employability is a very important priority of education, there is little chance to circumvent this. So, high schools have to find ways of imparting these subjects in smart ways without compromising on overall development.
Some smart institutes are already doing this. Well, when thinking about it, it is impossible for children to grasp complex concepts of science in its full extent. So, these smart institutes have decided to go for a dual approach. The first aspect of the approach is to quench the thirst for knowledge. Students are encouraged to question and probe concepts in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology.
By encouraging the inquisitive nature in students, they would indirectly be motivating a positive interest in these subjects. This way, the resistance of students to learn an alien concept would be eliminated. Having achieved the interest of the students, teachers move on to the second approach.
High Schools and Coaching Institutes need to develop methods to smartly implement the rote method as a second approach. The rote system is seen as an antagonist by many educationists, but there sure are many practical benefits. All students do not learn in the same way, and for teachers to make students totally understand subjects would be impossible.
