Don’t make pre-schoolers take exams and teach in song instead, says NCERT

• The government is planning to ease the burden on the youngest of students.
  
• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) announced that preschool children should not be made to sit for examinations — written or oral.
  
• Student assessment should be done on a regular basis using tools such as anecdotal records, checklists, portfolios and interactions, it said.
  
• It also asked schools to engage students in ‘age-appropriate’ songs during mid-day meal breaks.
  

In a landmark move that could alter the competition-riddled Indian education system, the government is planning to ease the burden on its youngest of students.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) announced that preschool children should not be made to sit for examinations — written or oral. It also says that they should not be categorised as ‘pass’ or ‘fail’. According to the body, exams are a harmful practice, which is often a result of misguided parental aspiration.

Instead, the body wants children to make a song and dance of learning. In its recommendations, it asked schools to engage students in ‘age-appropriate’ songs during meal breaks — as music leads to better receptivity.

NCERT instead wants teachers to observe children closely, and make them aware of their habits and social relationships.

“Currently we have in the country, pre-school programmes ranging from those that put children to a dull and monotonous routine to those where children are exposed to structured formal learning, often in English, made to do tests and homework, and denied their right to play,” Financial Express reported citing NCERT official.

Instead, a child’s progress should be assessed using anecdotal records, checklists, portfolios and interactions.

“Each child’s folder should be available for parents and children to view and should remain with the preschool until such time as a child’s transition to another preschool programme or in the primary school,” the guidelines mentioned.

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