Vice President concerned over poor learning skills of Indian students; calls for child-centred approach to curriculum

Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari has expressed serious concern over poor level of student learning at the primary and secondary school levels.  He said the learning outcomes for children in Indian schools are far below corresponding class levels in several other countries. Speaking at the Platinum Jubilee celebration of the Hindi Vidya Prachar Samiti and the Hindi High School, Ghatkopar in Mumbai today, Mr Ansari said the reasons for poor quality lies in the weak teaching process, that is neither child friendly nor adopts a child-centred approach to curriculum. He said, the capacity, motivation and accountability of teachers to deliver quality education need to be critically and urgently addressed at primary, secondary and higher education levels.

Vice President observed that despite higher levels of enrolments and a massive increase in physical infrastructure, the value added by formal education is still weak. He expressed concern over the steep drop out rate after the elementary level. “Drop out rates continue to be high, especially among socially and economically marginalized groups” he added indicating that this adversely affected the process of inclusive growth.

Mr. Hamid Ansari also informed that the mean years of schooling in India at 5.12 years is well below other emerging market economies such as China (8.17 years) and Brazil (7.54) and significantly below the average for all developing countries at 7.09 years. He said education acts as an integrative force in society, imparting values that foster social cohesion and national identity. Keeping this in mind, the Vice President said, the Government has placed an unprecedented focus on the expansion of education as well as significantly improving the quality of education, with a stress on skill development.

Mr. Ansari complimented the efforts of the Hindi Vidya Prachar Samiti for its efforts in promoting education through its renowned schools and colleges viz. Hindi High School, Ghatkopar, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar and the HVPS International School, Andheri.

75 years ago, the seed of Hindi Vidya Prachar Samiti was sown by visionary late Nand Kishor Singh ‘Jairam ji’, a postman attached to the Ghatkopar Post Office in 1930s. He was the lone survivor of a military unit who fought on a front in Turkey in World War I. Upon  returning home he was convinced that the only way to alleviate poverty is through education.  He therefore diligently collected small amounts as four or eight annas and formed the Hindi Vidya Prachar Samiti, which founded a primary school named Hindi High School on August 15, 1938 with 12 students and a teacher.  The institution has since grown manifolds and acquired accolades, including a NAAC Grade A for its college.