Evolution of Education!

The first school that I attended in my village was a primary school called Paral School and Koran Master was its Head. It has weathered 70 years of sustained existence, now with the name South Kuthuparamba UP School. The roof is tiled now, whereas it was covered with thatched coconut leaves during my days.

My elder daughter's first school was the Mount Carmel School, Khanpur, Ahmedabad. My younger daughter attended The International Indian School, Riyadh (formerly Embassy of India School).

Coming to my first grand child it was The Kindergarten Starters, Dubai. My next two grand-kids went to Middleton International School, by Eton House, Singapore.

Over the years, it is not just the school buildings, but the very concept of education has transformed dramatically. From the purely academic purpose of developing the mental ability of the kids, today's schools prepare them for the social, political, and economic realities of modern life at a very young age.

With the result, the kids have activity programs, imaginative writing and reading classes, projects linked to the community, flexible classroom space, dramatics and informal activities, discovery methods of learning, self-assessment systems, and programs for the development of citizenship and responsibility.

I was quite impressed to see my grand daughter's assignment in the 2nd grade on 'Persuasive Writing' (see the photo). Something that I was never exposed to formally in my school or even college years!