Are Traditional Schools Becoming Obsolete?

There is a recent rise in discussions about whether the traditional schooling system is going to become extinct. While many parents still believe that a formal school system is what is good for their children there are also another set of parents who are looking at alternative, liberal forms of education.

The advantages of a traditional school setup include –

1. Physical presence of teachers and peers – This is one of the biggest pros as it makes sure that students are supervised and have an adult to go to at all times. There is face to face contact between students and teachers.
2. Social needs are met. Students, especially in their teenage, look up to their friends for moral and emotional support. School atmosphere gives them the chance to have increased interactions with peers.
3. Access to library and other infrastructure. All schools are equipped with libraries, labs and computers. This enables students to access data and do research on concepts easily.
4. Scheduled learning – Schools have timed sessions for all subjects. This means learners have to be punctual and be physically present for the classes which teaches discipline.
5. Extra-curricular activities – Most educational institutions offer other activities such as games, drama club, music, MUNs, field trips etc. This helps in the holistic development of children.

While all these are true, why is it that parents are still unhappy with such schools?

1. Inflexible schedule – Traditional schools are not accommodative of the changing needs of learners. Students these days pursue different interests such as sports, music, film making etc. This means that they cannot dedicate 8 hours to school every day.
2. Lack of skill-based learning – Traditional schools only test ROTE memory of students. There is not enough attention given to the development of their analytical, critical thinking. This hinders the development of creativity among learners.
3. Over-testing – Students get exhausted and de-motivated because of the number and frequency of tests that they are expected to take, especially when they are in high school. This leads to burn out among learners.
4. Poor teacher-student ratio – Typical schools in India have 1:30 or even 1:40 ratio. This hinders the capability of teachers to provide individual attention to all students.

While a traditional school may be the default for many people, the fact is that it doesn’t work for everyone. There are a number of reasons why a parent may want to investigate their options. It is time to look for alternatives to schooling if you see that your child is unhappy at school, doesn’t feel challenged enough, has a hectic schedule and needs flexible learning plans, wants to take learning at his/her own pace or simply if traditional schools are unsatisfactory. There are various options available today and it is high time parents think about what works best for their high-school learner.