Teachers feel languages shouldn't be easy score'

Hyderabad: With the number of students who scored 100 in languages having increased in this year’s board examinations, teachers say that the evaluation of language papers needs to be tightened, and it should not be treated as an “easy score”.

Speaking of the trend, English teacher Shanti Shukla said, “It is deeply saddening that the beauty of language is compromised in today’s race for marks.” She said, she had been to evaluation camps where the language papers are checked on the basis of an answer key that mentions certain words that need to be present in the answer. “It places no importance on grammar or spelling. This encourages rote learning in subjects where creativity and imagination should be employed,” Ms Shukla said.

Educational experts stated that a score above 90 for languages was unheard of two decades back, and the student was regarded as having a grasp on the language.

Ms Naisha T, an high school English teacher, said, “English or any language is about vocabulary, the use of metaphor, simile and allegory and the style of writing. When so many things come in play, how can one score full marks?”

She said competitive inflation of marks had affected all subjects but it was worse for languages. “No one does extra reading any more and learns straight from the texbook just to score well.”

Students say that they are used to English being their strong subject.

Student Sahitya Vijay says she was surprised to score 97 marks in English. “Our teachers keep telling us that English and languages were our strongest points to score. Everything we learn follows the question paper format..”

“If our curriculum wants to promote good grammar and spelling and not churn out school pass-outs who are not well versed in neither, we need to tighten our belts. Writing and speaking is an art and if we don't grant it space to develop, our children will never learn,” said Ms Shukla