Kids to choose the subject they would like to study in a particular day

Soon, no time-table in schools Sonia Sarkar The Times of India 6 Apr, 2007

New Delhi: The ‘time-table’ in schools across the country is set to change beyond recognition. Students will no longer have to sit through a succession of 35-minute periods mugging up lessons from the blackboard. NCERT is set to replace the ‘time-table’ system with the concept of ‘time packaging’ — a flexible schedule involving students’ activities, a time for self-study and even trips beyond the school bounds. NCERT has begun collecting feedback from schools on the time management system and hopes to introduce it from 2008-09.

‘‘The rigidity in the education system is best portrayed in the school time-table. Our aim is to make time management an essential aspect of academic planning and bring flexibility and variation in practices,’’ said NCERT director Krishna Kumar, explaining the time-package project. The dynamic time scheme will allow kids to choose the subject they would like to study in a particular day. If they want to learn about water, the topic will be included in discussions on subjects like maths, science, social science, health and hygiene.

The concept was mooted in the National Curriculum Framework 2005. The system plans to use school time more creatively. So, instead of students just sitting in class and listening to instructors, time could be set aside for them to clean classrooms and toilets, sing together, listen to a guest talk, put up display boards in classrooms or enjoy the weather outside the school premises. The school annual calendar will now be planned keeping in mind local activities and the season.