How can schools play a role in producing well-rounded individuals?
Schools play an important role in imparting knowledge and producing individuals with high moral and ethical values who contribute to our country’s development.
However, there have been accusations that Asian schools are not churning out well-rounded individuals. The main culprit they say is the education system which is heavily exam oriented and although students excel academically, they are not good in sports or extracurricular activities even straight .As students are considered only paper smart lacking common knowledge or even skills-based knowledge. Thus, schools play a vital role in ensuring its products are not only academically well qualified but also confident, intelligent and have multiple skills.
The most important step schools should take with the cooperation of the Education Ministry is to place less emphasis on scholarly achievements and examination grads. Currently, due to heavy stress on examination results, many, if not all, student study to excel academically rather than have a balanced approach to studies. They study had and attend tuition classes so that they are able to get straight As in all the subjects. This leaves them little time to indulge in extra-curricular activities or sports. Thus, a markedly different way of grading and assessing students should be adopted like in the West. In order to produce well rounded individuals, grades should be given for assignments, extracurricular activities as well as involvement in sports. Ideally, only 50% of marks should be allocated for examination and the rest for participation in non-academic activities. This would produce students with a innovative, intelligent and creative personality as progression in school would not be based solely on examinations.
In addition, a system should be introduced to make it compulsory for students to volunteer with community-based organizations such as orphanages, centers for the disabled and other social non-governmental organizations. Assignments related to involvement in these organizations can form part of the examination system. Thus, students will be compelled to participate in various kinds of extracurricular and sports activities, under the guidance of their teachers of course. That would ultimately enable them to acquire people’s skills such as communication and writing skills through the ability to interact with others and engage in stimulating discussions.
Study environment can be made less mundane and monotonous by introducing outdoor learning experience. More emphasis on outdoor learning activities rather than those confined to classroom activities should be made part of the regular teaching method. Students thus, will acquire interest in their studies and would be able to expand their general knowledge Schools would stop churning out “book worms” and diffident students. Rather, this novel approach would produce students who are smart, intelligent, bold and inquisitive.
In all, the task of producing well rounded students and hence, individuals lay heavily on the shoulders of the education ministry and teachers. It is the step in the right direction towards creating a generation that is inquisitive and smart. These individuals can then contribute tremendously to our nation’s development and standing in the world.
