field notes2 - Exams. Samhita

Students getting ready for the assembly, some playing football, some reading notes, some wanting to finish the assembly and get to class, it was a hot sunny morning. The assembly began with P.E exercises followed by prayer, Karnataka anthem, News read by the students and ended with the national anthem. As the assembly got over we were called by the principal to enquire about the progress of the project. He told us that it was getting more challenging to engage co education schools. Students stay back up to 4.30p.m after school hours for Independence Day function practice, but, students reach home late. He even told us that students of the primary school bring cell phones to school and parents are encouraging them to do so. When parents are questioned on this they say that they need to keep a track of their child, hence the child carries the phone along. The principal thinks that this I negativity is the effect of media on the students. He went on to tell us that the students hide their phones in their socks when there is a check. They send texts to one another making each one aware of the checking.

While talking to us, he got a call from one parent saying that her daughter won’t be able to attend school for the day, as they had a family issue. At that point, he told us that he prefers the parent calling or texting him when the child won’t be able to attend school. This is because he can keep a track and know if it’s genuine. Some children used to write leave letters and sign instead of their parent. Thus he does not accept leave letters.

He told us that there was a girl who had family issues and the mother asked the principal to give her a T.C, so that she can get admitted in a school in Tamil Nadu. The Principal and teachers tried convincing her not to do so, but she went on to do it. Later, the girl had trouble adjusting in the other school, so she brought back. Then the parents literally begged the principal to get her admitted in to the school.

He told us that the students are obedient. But when it comes to revising at home they would not do it. Most of the parents are illiterate too and do not look in to what the child has done in school. Due to this the school conducts extra classes after school hours for the students. This is to help them revise so that they can score well in the exams. Students groups 5 were formed head by a student who performed well in which they study together and help each other. Every once in 2 month’s parent teacher meeting is conducted so that the parents know how their child is performing in school. This is done for improvement.

Then we on to talking to the teachers in the staff room, the kannada teacher was free then. He told us that they conducted weekly tests for the 10^th std students on every chapter. If one does not perform well, then a retest was given. The 8^th and 9^th std students had monthly tests. The students were given scheme of evaluation; this helped them in preparing accordingly.

The English and social studies teacher told us that, report cards are given, PTM, dairies are maintained in which portions are given, marks are entered, exam time table is written, home work details. This is done to keep a check on every child individually. They have a revision book; intense revision is done in class. Month of September is the most stressful week for the students.

On talking to Arshita, we got to hear a lot of stories of why students were dropping out of school but she even mentioned that drop outs have considerably reduced over the years. She said that there were some students dropped out of school due to exam pressure which led to bad performance in exams. There are more than 80% of the students who come under the below poverty line, these students were given bicycles from the government.