Prof Z A Hashmi
Keeping in view the present scenario of education I know how much caliber and hard work it requires to crack the entrance examinations like AIPMT, JKCET, AFMC, EAMCET, AICEE or JEE, AMUEEE and JMIEEE for that matter. One requires consistency, patience, huge deskbound capacity, thorough self-study, mental conformity, and scores of practice hours. One has to be determined and calculated about every hour of the day for a long period of time, if one starts early that is. But with the self-preparatory enthusiasm, one also requires support from different associations; and the availability of literary sources. Textbooks, guides, tuition notes, previous question papers are all good, necessary and useful. But what is more important than all these things is the careful and systematic guidance of teachers. Lecturers are the soul of literary sources in today’s hi-tech and tech-savvy world. One can go online and study for many hours as most of the topics are accessible there, but this is on the presumption that Internet connectivity is available to each and every aspirant of the prestigious examination as well as to general students. But as we know such is not the case here in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, so parents have to hold their horses and do an incisive quest for qualified and efficient teachers. Now considering this, the scheme “CM’s Super-50” started by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed with the directive approach of Naeem Akhtar, the Education Minister of our state, is being considered as a groundbreaking and innovative step towards uplifting the education system of state.
Under this scheme, the primary idea is to select 50 medical and engineering aspirants via a screening test in each district of the state and provide them with the essential study material and resourceful teachers for the preparation of the prestigious entrance exams without any fees or liabilities on part of the students. This scheme covers both medical as well as engineering streams. I think that on paper and as an impression this plan is a state-of-the-art initiative taken by the State Government. On overhearing the title “CM’s Super-50” for the first time, a parent cannot resist but think it as a wonderful and important opportunity for his/her child to satisfy his/her instinct of becoming a doctor or an engineer. A well-established, systematic, organized, efficient and conducive atmosphere for a class comes to his/her mind along with the presence of a capable teacher. But on personal inspection of the study center, all his/ her reveries and imaginings turn out to be delusions and misapprehensions. If not everywhere but such is the case before me. What started out as special classes for 50 eligible medical and engineering aspirants have now transformed into yet another usual private tuition centers and normal coaching classes with the difference of being Govt initiated. The tradition of private tuitions by school and college lecturers in classrooms crowded and jam-packed with students who don’t even take the Entrance Exam seriously and attend there just for “socializing” (saying with personal experience), along with the mere seriousness, is having a changeover. What the J&K Education Minister previously banned is yet again prevailing in his own brainchild. Classes that were considered to be taught only for the professional entrance examinations are again being structured as normal tuition classes.
One such center is in Doda. Around 600 students have been registered till now, not for the screening test but for convening of the classes. The classes have started in Doda Center from Jan 2, 2016 with much more than just 50 students. It has been observed that presently in this center on an average a single class consists of 100 students. To be fit for these “Special Classes” one doesn’t have to qualify any screening test but just submitting a mere admission form of Rs 100 is sufficient. I think the concept of Education Minister is rather being misconstrued here. The fact that the native teachers are in denial of this is perplexing. Apparently they are not in awe of this. They are refusing to teach students in these classes because their own “interests” are being impacted. The fortune they make by private tuitions is being affected adversely. Thus, they do not want the scheme to be a success as known from some internal sources.
Same is case in Bhaderwah Center where the registration has gone beyond 600 in two branches of the same center and the concept of Super-50 classes lacks here as well. Thought the CEO Doda is making hectic effort to make it a success and is running from pillar to post but the support of local competent teachers is yet to be managed. District Kishtwar and Ramban are also sailing in the same boat. In Kishtwar the registeration has gone above 400 in the center and the efforts of the Principal to manage Super-50 Classes are yet to deliver any positive output. The chances are not very bright because on date only 30 students have registered themselves for the Special Super-50 classes there. The low registration for this seems to be the result of personal interest of the students and parents in some private institutions in Jammu. Many resourceful students have already considered the Super-50 scheme a failure and have enrolled themselves in some private centres in Jammu. However, one positive thing has been observed here that the lecturers who used to take the tuition classes in Kishtwar have supported the Principals in their missions by joining the study centers. But the sever proves to be yet another setback for the principals in the absence of proper heating system in these centers.
Now personally I think that two things are still a huge requirement for these centers to be a success. One is the infrastructure and availability of various facilities; and the other is monitoring. Proper heating systems, air-tight rooms, and well-set classrooms should be made available. The section of the classes of these tuition centers should consist not more than fifty students in each class. Where it is needed, the demonstration should be made via projector to make concepts clear to the students. Inclusion of SMART Sympodiums and Classroom Performance System (CPS) in these classes will also be beneficial. A special class should be taken of the students who are still in confusion even after this demonstration. The atmosphere should be made where approaching the teacher is not a war of interest for the student. Smart learning with 360 degrees of the subject using modular approach as well as in-built multimedia content bank should be provided. Real life application of all the difficult and abstract concepts should be specified. Organized graphic representation of concepts in a chapter covering all its aspects should be made. Last but not the least; in Doda the administrative unit of the center be directed to use the SMART CLASSROOMS present in the Govt Degree College Doda. There are around four SMART classrooms which are highly equipped with modern facilities which can be utilized in teaching those who qualify for the Super-50 Classes. These classrooms are non-operative for this winter vacation period and thus their utilization for only the Super-50 students will be of huge advantage.
(The author can also be reached on the following email id: szahashmi@gmail.com)
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