The Hindu

• Proposal to include a vocational training course in the NCF

Udupi, Oct 9: Director of the Secondary Education Examinations Board T.M. Kumar said that a uniform education system will be more beneficial for the country.

He was speaking at a programme organised by the Udupi District High School Headmasters and Pre-University College Principals' Association, here.

Mr. Kumar said the existence of two or three systems of education showed that there was discrimination. Work education, art, peace, health and physical education were now in the National Curriculum Frame (NCF). There was a proposal to include a vocational training course in the NCF.

In mathematics alone, nearly 3.5 lakh students failed the examination each year.

If the education did not make a student think, it could never develop creativity, he added. During inspections, it was found that many schoolteachers were completing their portions by December and conducting revision after that.

Some schools were found not to have a copy of the syllabus and many teachers had not heard of a document such as the National Curriculum Frame. If the present trend continued, there was every possibility of imbalances cropping in the education system in the next five years.

A change in the education system was possible only if there was more openness and a change in the attitude of people. "Examinations are controlling the education system. It is like the tail wagging the dog," he said.

It was not possible to reduce the examination fees because of the financial constraints of the Secondary Education Board, he added. The board was facing a deficit of Rs. 1.5 crore, Mr. Kumar said.