A good number of students fail in English every year in both SSC & HSC Exams. I would like to draw the attention to all concerned authorities regarding the failure of the students in English subject in secondary & higher secondary levels.
Some reasons & recommendations are given below :
#Reasons :
a) Scarcity of English teachers in secondary level English teaching.
b) Most of the teachers who are involved in English teaching don’t have English background.
c) In most cases, English classes are not conducted in English as most of the English teachers are not skilled enough to conduct classes in English medium / version.
d) Most of the students don’t have grammatical basics from primary level. In secondary level upto class Eight, the option of grammar teaching-learning is limited due to the distribution of only 25 marks in Grammar Test.
e) Most of the students (those institutions are at rural areas) don’t have class standard as they have been promoted to upper classes without securing even pass marks. In many cases failed students in Test Exam are allowed to fill forms for SSC & HSC Exams under political, social or local pressure.
f) Incoordination / lack of coordination among textbooks, Syllabus, marks distribution and exam system. For example, NCTB prescribed English textbooks don’t suit with the question patterns designed by NCTB. “English Grammar and Composition” for 9 & 10 classes is incomplete with respect to question pattern.
g)For class Eight, only 100 marks is distributed for English subject (Seen passage, Unseen passage, Grammar test & Writing test) at present.
In the name of reducing pressure on the examinees of JSC Exam, only 100 marks English (deducting Right Forms of Verbs, Degrees, Completing Stories, Composition etc) was introduced by the year 2018. Same syllabus has already been introduced for the classes Six & Seven by some schools. Undoubtedly, it discourages the learners in developing skills in English
h) Frequent changes on Syllabus, marks distribution, textbooks, exam system in the name of upgradation hamper the strategy of English teaching-learning.
i) Teachers, students & guardians emphasise more on results than learning.
j) The scenario of exam centres varies largely in different regions of the country.
k) Above all, fearness of English demoralises students to learn English spontaneously. Most of them cram English without understanding. So, they don’t find interest in learning English.
#Recommendations :
a) Vacant posts for English subject should be filled immediately. More posts for English teacher should be created.
English background bearing teachers should be posted to English classes. In some cases, real English teachers are being deprived in this regard specially in secondary level.
b) Teachers should be brought under frequent refreshing trainings.
c) English textbooks should be well-designed specially according to question pattern.
d) Coordination among textbooks, marks distribution and exam system should be ensured.
e) Question Bank should be introduced immediately by NCTB in order to reduce the dependibility on guide books.
f) Teachers’ guide is badly in needed to provide every English teacher so that they can conduct English classes more effectively.
g) Frequent changes on syllabus, marks distribution, textbooks, question pattern should be stopped.
h) For classes Six and Seven, marks distribution for English Second Paper can be upgraded into 100 marks. Translation, correction, idioms & phrases, Corrections, linkers can be incorporated.
For class Eight, 200 marks English should be reintroduced soon.
For classes 9 & 10, Capitalization & Punctuation, Table, Tag question, paragraph can be deducted. (paragraph exists in both papers)
For classes 11 &12, many of the topics of English For Today are copied from foreign websites and they don’t go with the social values & culture of our country and seem to be boring to the learners. For example, unit -5,6,13 etc. English text should be designed on more literary topics so that learners can experience the real taste of literature.
i) English Language Club can be made mandatory in every school, college & madrasah.
j) Teachers should motivate the students to learn English spontaneously. Students are suggested to practise English in their real life situations.
k) Learners should keep trying to create an English environment by listening English News, watching English movies, reading English dailies, journals, story books etc.
l) “To meet the demand of globalization and to keep pace with the changing world, English is a must” — should be realized by the students.
m) Teachers should be positive & confident in English teaching. They should not show any lame excuse in conducting classes in English such as – ” students are not able to understand English lectures.”
Students can gradually develop their Listening Skill and then respond if the classes are conducted in English frequently and spontaneously.
Mohammed Arif Imam
Lecturer in English,
Belchow Karimabad Fazil (Degree) Madrasah,
Honourary Lecturer in English,
Hajiganj Govt Model Pilot High School and College.