At a time when most students in private English-medium schools are gadget savvy, teachers said there has to be a greater focus on basic skills like reading, writing, spelling and mental mathematics to prepare them for the future.
The age-old skills of reading and writing have suffered a setback during the pandemic. This has been aggravated by the penetration of devices and dependence on technology in everyday life, teachers said.
Reading, writing and mathematics skills form the basis for communication and problem solving, said the principal of a school.
In the age of spellchecks and in-built dictionaries or calculators, students are focusing less on basic skills, teachers across schools said.
In many schools, the thrust is now back on developing these skills.
“During the pandemic, we transitioned from in-person to online. Even now, there are areas where we have adapted technology in the school. But simultaneously, we have to teach our children correct spellings, sentence construction and mental mathematics,” said Devi Kar, director, Modern High School for Girls.
“We are focusing on strengthening these valuable skills (especially English and math). As we adopt technology, we cannot let the old things go. We have GPS but that does not mean we will not have a sense of direction,” she said.
Often, a student does not look up a dictionary because the search engine on the Internet shows up both meaning and the pronunciation.
“But they need to be taught how to follow an index,” said Kar.
“Google it,” 10-year-olds tell their parents when asked the meaning of a word or to do a calculation.
“For English word meanings we would always try to find out the context in which the word is used. But that is no longer there with these children,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Day School, Elliot Road.
Even a year after in-person classes resumed, gaps in learning remain and these have to be worked on, Gomes Surana said.
English and math are the two building blocks for a secure future, she said.
In Loreto House, the school’s thrust is on strengthening reading skills of students.
The school has refurbished the book corner in classrooms with new books to encourage students to read.
“How can you type if you do not know how to write?” asked principal Aruna Gomes.
In Sri Sri Academy, tools are being used to assess learning gaps.
A teacher has been engaged to suggest reading content for children up to Class VIII to encourage them to read beyond the text.
“Communication, presentation and analytical skills depend on English and mathematical skills. If in a board room one cannot mentally calculate and loses time on the calculator, they will end up not seeing the bigger picture,” said Ranjan Mitter, principal, Future Foundation School.
“The irresponsible and reckless use of the screen is damaging for the brain in a growing age. Gadget dependency is growing to the point of slavery,” he said.
The sense of judgement or the discerning eye has to be of the human brain and notthe gadget, said Suvina Shunglu, principal of Sri Sri Academy.
“Students who can articulate and communicate well or are good at data processing would have an edge over others,” said Shunglu.
In the age of technology, when schools communicate online, the onus is on teachers to strike a balance.
“Just as we need smart classrooms, we also need to focus on content,” said Terence Ireland, principal,St James’ School.
