Report cards to go easy on kids
Avoiding usage of harsh words on report cards will help students not feel inferior.
Report cards of students will no longer have the words “poor”, “dull” and “slow learner” to describe the performance of the student, up to eight grade.
This has been decreed by the ministry of HRD so that students do not feel inferior after reading these comments and also so that parents do not comment using “similar” words after reading the report cards.
Sandeep Sunil, a CBSE official, says, “The decision has been taken after careful consultation with a committee that consisted of two child psychologists who were of the same opinion that such comments in a child’s primary report card were harmful to their self-esteem at a young age and might lead to unnecessary peer pressure. Teachers are also advised to not compare students or use such terms because young minds are impressionable.”
Report cards of students will no longer have the words “poor”, “dull” and “slow learner” to describe the performance of the student, up to eight grade.
Report cards will also be clubbed according to the level of schooling i.e. primary, secondary and so on, so that the progress of children can be analysed with each grade by teachers to know their strengths and weaknesses including participation in extracurricular activities.
English teacher Deepthi Divakar says, “Class teachers are especially happy about this development because when a child is promoted to the next class, teachers might not know about their past performances. This way, special attention can be given to students according to their past scores and students can also be encouraged in regard to their good performances. Students can be picked for Olympiads based on their consistent scores. Moreover, teachers will also know about extracurricular activity participation and past laurels.”
The progress of students will be marked in a log in which teachers merely need to tick boxes that will be linked to the learning skills of a student.
Students will also fill in a selfevaluation form at the end of the year in which they can write about their progress and if the teaching methods used were helpful.
Educational experts from the city have written a letter to the MHRD stating that the same should be applicable even after eighth grade as students are put under extreme pressure in high school.
The progress of students will be marked in a log in which teachers need to tick boxes.