Editorial: Time to act

This year’s ICSE (10) result has come as a shocker – just one 6 pointer and seven students above 90 per cent. Though all the 141 students have passed, the average marks were only 69. 94. The average marks subject wise: English - 68.03, Hindi - 70.28, Bengali - 71.58, EED -75.19, HCG -73.29, Maths - 69.95, Science - 60.30 and Computer - 70.92. None of the subjects’ marks has even touched 75 per cent. If this is the average marks for ICSE (Class 10), what would the situation in ISC (10+2)?

This year Delhi University has again raised it cut-off percentage. If we were to believe that Nobilians at FRI would sustain their ICSE marks two years later at ISC, they can very well forget about stepping inside the campus of Delhi University or Calcutta University or IITs or any reputed medical colleges in this country.

The present administration has taken a serious view of the situation. Some students were detained at various classes to give them an extra year to improve on their studies. Instead of welcoming the serious steps being taken by the school to improve the results, certain section of the local media and parents criticised the school administration. They failed to understand that even if the school allows students with mediocre marks to sit for ICSE or ISC exams, the final results are not going to be helpful for anyone. Neither the students, nor their parents or the school.

Who is to be blamed for the continuous fall in education standards in De Nobili? Well, let us not get into the blame game. We do understand the standard of teaching has dramatically gone down. During two decade, a new trend has evolved – private tuitions. You can even call it a parallel education economy. Ethics of this trend are highly questionable.

Coaching for IITs and medical colleges can be understood but do you really need tuitions at classes like five or six?! If a student needs tuition at such initial levels, only reason could be the incompetence of the teacher at school.

Parents send their children to De Nobili to get the best form of education. This is the school that has produced some of the best. It is time for all the stakeholders – parents and teachers to introspect and think how to improve. Average of 69.94 per cent is a warning. It is a time to act.