The Open Classroom

Context:  Pandemic provides an opportunity to reimagine schools.

Problems associated with the Indian school system.

• Most schools are caged jails: where an alien curriculum designed by “experts” is thrust down a child’s gullet.
• Presence of gargantuan corporate enterprises: There are thousands of children on their rolls, and they are run like factories or like mini-armies.
• Structural issues with public schools: like wall caves, roof collapses, and poor quality of mid-day meal.
• Deep socio-economic segregation: Which school a child goes to depends on her socio-economic status; The COVID-19 pandemic has furthered and exacerbated this divide (digital divide).
  • The 1966 Kothari Education Commission’s recommendation for a common school system was never implemented.
• Government’s intention to privatize schools: While the best schools in the most advanced countries like America, England, Japan and Finland are government schools.

Way Forward: To improve the school system in India.

• Create “free schools”: as envisioned by progressive thinkers like -
  • Leo Tolstoy, founded a school, Yasnaya Polyana, without any strict schedule, homework or physical punishment.
  • Maria Montessori: emphasized children’s freedom and choice.
  • Rabindranath Tagore: criticized rote learning in the classic tale The Parrot’s Training (Totaakahini).
• Conceive neighbourhood learning spaces: where adults can share their skills and experiences with young ones.
  • E.g. In the 1960s, England had many community colleges where anyone who had any skill could offer a course and anyone who wanted to learn a skill or subject could join in.
• Improve government schools: by
  • Improving the infrastructure E.g. by creating clean toilets, drinking water, a library, a tinkering lab, and a playground.
  • Make learning fun: by creating classes with children of different age group.
  • Bringing the innovators within government system: will help to motivate many teachers.
  • Collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs): To bring in best practices.
• Make schools more inclusive: By enabling children with different backgrounds (class, caste, religions, and abilities) study together and learn to care and empathize.
• Create schools customized for each student: like David Horsburgh’s Neel Bagh School in Kolar, Karnataka, where children could learn at their own pace.