Students losing interest in science, maths, says report

Secondary school students are losing interest in science and mathematics due to “uninteresting” methods of teaching, a Centre-appointed team has observed in a latest review of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

The panel also found that due to this the students are switching over to humanities and commerce at the senior secondary level.

In its report to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, the panel has also highlighted the acute shortage of quality teachers in these 2 subjects, suggesting for setting up of a task force for drawing a road map for action to deal with the situation.

“Ironically uninteresting methods of teaching have come to be cited as propelling this flight of enrolment, the teachers themselves have shown no particular keenness to hone their skills,” the RMSA joint review committee noted in its report.

The panel, which prepared its report taking into consideration various open source data including that of the national assessment survey held by the government, also made field visits to various schools in Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh to take stock of the ground situation last month.

The findings of the Joint Review Mission (JRM) raise a serious concern as the report indicates failure of almost all the efforts being made by the Central government to promote science and mathematics among the students.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often laid great emphasis on the need to give a push to teaching learning of science subjects in schools, with a view that creation of an atmosphere for scientific research and atmosphere will help the nation reach newer heights on the road to development.