Direction (Qs.1 to 10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
The main idea conveyed by the report is that our children do not get a chance to enjoy learning at school because the syllabi are irrationally organised, teaching is text book centred and the system of examinations instils fear and encourages mechanical repetition. Text books developed along the lines of reconceptualised syllabi can attempt to integrate positive values, life skills, aesthetic sensibility and concern for the environment. They are interactive and make a conscious effort to point both children and the teachers towards other sources of learning such as neighbourhood, nature etc. In addition, two parallel challenges deserve attention. The first is examination reforms. Rigid indifference to individual differences is the major flaw of the present system. From the quality of questions to the manner of evaluation, it favours drilled preparedness and ignores independent thought while the unrealistically high cut offs in coveted colleges are a further sign of systemic inefficiency. It is hardly surprising that the very thought of examinations makes the young depressed. Moreover, practices of splitting unified topics into arbitrary bits carrying small marks value encourage teachers to concentrate on scoring topics overlooking the importance of perspective and overall understanding. Little surprise that many elite high fee schools are opting for international Baccalaureate not because it offers status with its global certification but for its flexibility and respect for individual differences in learning.
The second area is teacher training which suffers from obsolete notions. Most teachers are trained mainly to cover the syllabus in a mechanical exam-oriented manner. By insisting that every child move at the same pace in all subjects teachers encourage rote learning and ridicule for those who fall behind. Teacher training whether for nursery or secondary school teachers should be embedded in courses, which have the capacity to develop both the teacher’s personality and perspective on society by linking subject learning with reflective and creative project work. The ultimate responsibility lies with universities and institutes of higher learning to ensure the quality of all teachers. Initiatives to improve the content of teacher training courses will ensure utilization of desolate university campuses daring summer vacations which conceal an enormous waste of infrastructure and expertise. The quality of education is a reflection of the quality of teachers and major improvements in their training and working conditions will motivate the young to pursue a teaching career and determine how India fares in the pursuit of economic and social development in the years to come.
Question No : 1
According to the author, what is the major weakness of the present examination system ?
(1) Teachers do not take into account the nature of questions asked in the examination
(2) Teachers are subjective in their assessment of papers
(3) Cut off standards for admissions to good institutions need to be raised
(4) It distinguishes between a creative student and a rote learner
(5) It does not consider unique learning patterns of studentsQuestion No : 2
Which of the following factors is responsible for children’s dislike of learning?
(i) Rigid, logical, systematic organization of syllabus
(ii) Teaching methodology which does not focus on text books
(iii) Examination pattern which rewards rote learning
(1) Only (i)
(2) Both (i) and (ii)
(3) Only (iii)
(4) All (i), (ii) and (iii)
(5) None of these
Question No : 3
What is the drawback of teacher training courses?
(1) They are held during summer vacations so attendance is low
(2) Content is being constantly changed so teachers cannot keep up
(3) Their focus is on imparting education only from an examination perspective
(4) They focus on making syllabi interactive rather than focusing on examination patterns
(5) None of theseQuestion No : 4
Which of the following is NOT TRUE in the context of the passage?
(1) Examinations arouse negative emotions in students
(2) Weak students are at a disadvantage if teachers force students to learn at the same speed
(3) Holding teacher training courses only during the academic year will help teachers cover the syllabus in an exam-oriented manner
(4) The responsibility for improving the quality of teachers lies in the hands of universities
(5) In the present educational system rote learning is encouragedQuestion No : 5
According to the author, which of the following conditions will influence India’s future development?
(i) Replacing traditional educational systems with globally accepted foreign systems
(ii) Improving employment conditions of teaching staff
(iii) Getting global accreditation for Indian college courses
(1) Only (i)
(2) Both (i) and (ii)
(3) Both (ii) and (iii)
(4) Only (ii)
(5) None of these
Question No : 6
What will be the impact of having an interactive syllabus?
(1) Teachers and students will explore sources other than the text book
(2) Students may get distracted and perform poorly in examinations
(3) Weaker students may get left behind
(4) Teachers may not be able to cover the entire syllabus for the examination
(5) Students and teachers alike will be overburdenedQuestion No : 7
Which of the following is essential to improve the quality of education?
(i) Focus on encouraging educational systems like International Baccalaureate
(ii) Reducing the number of examinations students have to take
(iii) Lowering the cut offs for expensive colleges so that all students have access
(1) None
(2) Both (i) and (ii)
(3) All (i), (ii) and (iii)
(4) Only (i)
(5) None of these
Question No : 8
Why do teachers focus on ‘scoring’ topics?
(1) Pressure from colleges who want to maintain high cut offs
(2) Faulty examination pattern which divides topics into smaller sections
(3) It is an objective of teacher training programmes
(4) To reduce the nervousness of students during examinations
(5) None of theseQuestion No : 9
What is the author’s recommendation to universities?
(1) Encourage only creative project work from primary school teachers
(2) Enforce strict rules so that only those truly interested take up teaching as a profession
(3) Utilise their infrastructure during the academic year for teacher training
(4) Pass on responsibility for improving teacher training content to a government body
(5) None of theseQuestion No : 10
Why is the International Baccalaureate gaining popularity?
(1) It is a rigid well defined system
(2) It has a good reputation
(3) Fees of other educational systems are too high for the quality of education given
(4) It allows students some scope to learn at their own pace
(5) None of these