Hyderabad, January 04: The Secondary Education department introduced the grading system with the issuance of GO 592 on October 23 in order to lessen the burden on the Tenth Class (SSC) students. Following that even as the department has announced orientation classes for teachers and principals, who will be evaluating the answer-sheets, nothing has happened at the ground level with many of them unaware of the new evaluation method.
The basic purpose of grading, which is to take away the frightening judgmental quality of marks obtained in a test leading to a stress-free and joyful learning environment in the school, seems unattainable with the lackadaisical attitude of the school education department.
The widening gap and lack of communication between the department and the teachers is making things worse. The adoption of grading system in the State, which is modelled on the National Curriculum Framework designed by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), is just communicated with a GO and no further orientation so far.
When contacted, a teacher and member of the United Teachers’ Federation Venkateswarlu said that they had not received any formal intimation, except the GO, from the department. “On the other hand, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) teachers have been given orientation in a phased manner and have completed the process,’’ he said.
Without proper awareness of the system there would not be any change in evaluation process that hopes to ease burden on the students, he said.
Questioned about the same, directorate of school education officials quickly point that they did not get enough time to conduct orientation programmes for the teachers.
“There have been many hitches for the smooth conduct as per the academic calendar.
Earlier, we framed an orientation programme on the grading system in the month of September and it did not take off due to the sudden demise of the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy followed by floods in some parts of the State and the latest political crisis,’’ an official said.
Meanwhile, the officials maintained that the schedule of Tenth Standard examinations (SSC) would be released once they got orders from the secondary education department which, in turn, is waiting to analyse the situation after the outcome of the all-party meeting to be held at New Delhi on January 5.
–Agencies