No homework for students of Std I, II gets mixed response

No homework for students of Std I, II gets mixed response

The recent order by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), which states that the schools can no longer assign homework to the students of Std I and II, has received a mixed reaction by the stakeholders in the education sector. Sakal Times spoke with city-based activists, teachers and parents to find out that most of them believe that there was a need to give homework, but its format should certainly be reformed. The students need to be given activity-based work to carry out at home to help inculcate their interest in studies.

We have often seen that children are unnecessarily burdened with homework from a very young age. In many schools, the children are already burdened with studies excessively due to long hours and too many subjects. Why make them do it at home as well? The schools should get everything done in the class hours itself so that at home, children get time to play or to pursue other interests.
—Kirti Sutrave (Parent)

I believe that the children should be given homework, otherwise, at that age, there is a possibility that they will forget whatever is taught to them in school. If we give them some homework, they at least open their books at home and remember what has been taught on that day. The homework need not be writing work, it could be some verbal activity or something like drawing and colouring.
—Pranita Chitale (Teacher, Podar International School)

If the schools are giving homework that includes replicating what has been taught in the classroom, then it does not serve any purpose. But I do believe that homework needs to be given to the students in some form. Children play in and out of their homes, the homework should be such that they should be able to apply what all they have learnt it in the schools, to their day-to-day activities. Homework should not be something that is seen as extra load, but it should be something that the child enjoys doing after school hours, at the same time, it should prove to be useful for his/her academics. It should challenge the children and boost their creativity. If this is followed, homework is certainly necessary for younger children as well.
— Vasant Kalpande (Education expert)

I agree with the decision and believe that it is not necessary to give homework to children at such a young age. It is the age to play, have fun. Rather than making children do reading or writing work after school hours, there are other ways in which they can be helped to grasp knowledge efficiently. It is better to give them verbal and activity-based homework, which will help them learn better, in a way they can enjoy.
—Amrutha Kolekar (Parent)

Homework acts as a way to generate children’s interest in studies beyond school. If we are unable to give homework, that means now, the parents will have to take extra efforts to inculcate that interest in their children. The homework need not be in pen and paper format, instead, it could be in form of activities where the children can apply their knowledge. Such homework needs to be given to children, that it supports the classroom work.
—Sangeeta Putatunda (Global Indian International School, Chinchwad)

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