Friday, August 15, 2008

Education of Slow Learner

Education of Slow Learner

by

Sultan Muhammad Khan


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Objectives

3. To identify the causes of slow

4. Learning Illness that cause slow learning

5. Identification of slow leaner in the class

6. Evaluation

7. Language development Problem

8. Reading problem

9. Teaching Spelling

10. Teaching writing

11. Social education

12. References

Introduction

Slow learners are those pupils who have limited ability due to different reason in the education process. Slow learner is advance word for “backward” or “mentally retarded” and “Educationally subnormal” (E.S.N.)

There are different reasons for slow learning, some time it is due to their mental ability, some time it due to their background, illiterate parents, culture problems, avoiding by the parents in early child hood, between ages 2 to 6 years. Some time it due to mental illness. These are different causes of the slow learner.

The purpose of this assignment is to determine the problems of the slow learners and the methods of education, How to teach them, so they can be better person of the society.

Objectives of this assignment

2. Identify the causes of slow learning

3. Identification of the slow leaner in the class

4. Problems of slow learner

5. Explorer the method of effective teaching for slow learner

Definition:

According to experts, children who for various reason, fall behind in their school work and require special teaching are called (educationally subnormal) E.S.N.

Slow learners are children who are doing poorly in school, yet are not eligible for special education; their intelligence test scores are too high for consideration as a child with mental retardation” (Mercer, 1996) (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).

Although slow learners may have special educational needs, they do not fit neatly into the special education system (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).

To identify the causes of slow learning

Showing the sign of slow learner doesn’t mean that the child is slow learner, there are other factors that could cause the process of slow learning;

Emotional growth

Feelings about one self and the developing of these feeling positive or negative is called emotional growth, Emotional and social development are often link together because they are relevant. In the initial stages child learn the Feelings of trust, fear, and love later on as he grow he develop the feeling of friendship, pride, and relationship which also guide toward social-emotional development of the child.. if the child is ignore in this stage and proper care is not provided to them, they build negative emotion and they ovoid trust initially parents and later on other people, they isolated them self from the outer world. Furthermore, a neglected child, feel him self rejected, and unsecured, it affect the developing skills of the child to socialize with others children.
In this stage the changes are very rapid in child and every change bring new change in the behaviour of the child and each change brings about new skills. Child develop multi skills in this stage, the most important one is positive feelings about self and trust building with others

Environment

Children react to their environment in early stages and he learns from the environment in which they grow. Create a safe environment for them and reduce the stress on your child and remove the things which are physical threats to the children e.g.: abusive behaviour and unsafe toys etc

With whom the child is spending his time, what is their intellectual level. And how they treat the child, when children have a secure Environment, it flourishes their abilities in positive direction. Studies show those children who have better environment show better confidence in life and in education

Growth and opportunities of Learning

Opportunities of learning is very necessary for the development of children cognitive abilities, Parents should provide rich learning environment to their children and open new windows of learning opportunities for them. They need simple playable activities and games to develop their brains, Show them new things and arrange new activities for them to enhance their thinking skill.

Absenteeism

Absenteeism from the school is another factor which can effect the ability of learning of a child, when a child is often absent from the class, he could catch with other student in school, he need extra home work with the help of parents to cover his short coming other wise he lose his self confidence in class, due to which he isolate himself from his class fellows and he became a slow learner.

Defective Vision

Defective vision is another possible cause of slow learning, it affect child’s growth and development and the ability to function in society. It also lead to effect self-esteem and confidence of the child which could lead to depression if not treated in early stages and child left behind in the class.

Resource Problem

Without proper Resources parent could not afford to provide better opportunities of learning to their children due to which the child lose his self-esteem. Availabilities of good books and other learning material which is necessary for the learning process of the child.

Illiterate Parents

Another problem in some cases are illiterate parent, those parents who are mentally backward and also have no education, effect the education of the child. Initial six years are very important and crucial period of child life, in this stage development of brain take place. Careful treatment is required to develop his skills, which help him in the later age in school and college

Untrained Teacher

Untrained teacher is another reason, without proper training a teacher could not understand the psychology of the child and his problems, what the possibilities are and why the child is not learning. A train teacher could understand the problem and eradicate it.

Class Size

Over crowded class is another problem which affects the learning process and lead to the product of slow learner. Slandered class size should from twenty to thirty students per class, but student exceed in the class teacher could not give attention to every student and nor he could evaluate every student due to that reason some student left behind.

Busy parent or no time for children

When parents have no time for their children and they are busy in their job it also leads a child to loneliness and isolated. He could not share his problems with his parents. The problem is much severed in case children age three to six years, because in this age they need full attention of the parents. It is the age of their development. They learn many things from parents.

Violence in School

Violence in schools is another factor which causes slow learning in students. Violence affect the learning abilities of the students, Exposure to violence is psychologically toxic. This exposure may lead to emotional problems and aggression, it also effect cognitive, psychological and learning process

Family Size

Family size also play a major role in the development of the child, in a small family a child will get attention of the parents and enough resources will be available to him. In case of large family size, children face many problems which effect there abilities e.g. emotional problem, resource problem etc.

Health Problem

Poor Health is also a hurdle in the growth and development of a child, which lead to the process of slow learning.

Deprived Culture

Evidence show that deprived cultured and Background may also cause the process of slow learning

Inadequate Teaching Staff

Lack of teachers in school is also a cause of slow learning, due to shortage of teacher in schools, the student left behind from other students in competition

Poor Leadership

Poor Leadership on behalf of teacher and head teacher as well as on the part of parents

Teaching Method

Teaching method is the most important factor in slow learning; a train teacher can understand the problem of the student and remove that problem by a better teaching style, which suite to the student need and mind. A good teacher will always use different methods in class so every student understand and learn. On the other hand those teachers who use one method of teaching create slow learner in the class because every student learn in different style and method.

Course

Students are subjected to inappropriate textbooks, and teaching material. Course should be design with easy to difficult approach so students understand what teachers are teaching them. Inappropriate course material would increase the number of slow learner in the class

Transfer of Teachers

Frequent transfer of teachers leaves no room for the development of mutual understanding and respect for each other. The moment they start to understand each other, the teacher is transferred. Once this process is repeated a few times with a student, the student closes himself to teachers in future.

Fear Complex

To camouflage their inability teachers grow a fence of fear around them selves. They resort to indiscriminate punishments resultantly some of the students run away from schools and the rest become docile with no interest in education but to spend time aimlessly.

Psychological Problems

Students due to high expectations of their families and absence of guidance for both the parents and students experience a lot of psychological stress, which has a retarding effect on their educational development

Medium of Instruction

Medium of instruction is also a big problem for some students. Therefore it is necessary to use mother tongue for the education so student understand it and they do not lose their precious time on language learning.

Communication Problem

Communication gaps between students, teachers and parents. Due to this gap neither the teachers nor the parents come to understand the students, resultantly they enforce upon them their wishes. This enforcement develops a rebellious or a docile nature in the students, which retard the positive abilities.

Deprived cultured

Evidence show that deprived cultured background may also cause the problem

Illness that cause slow learning

Alexia

Dyslexia

Strephosymbolia

Other Inherited parents

1. Alexia

Definition: “A language impairment caused by injury to the areas of the brain that process visual language. In its acœpure “form, the injury prevents people from being able to read, but not from being able to write.

Also Known As: word blindness, pure word blindness, Text blindness or visual aphasia.” (Jose Vega M.D., Ph.D)

2. Dyslexia

“Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that mainly affects reading and spelling. Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties in processing word-sounds and by weaknesses in short-term verbal memory; (SPELLIT Research Report )

The effects may be seen in spoken language and written language, Dyslexia tends to run in families

Using structured and multi sensory methods to improve the literacy skills of E.S.N Students in early ages.

3. Strephosymbolia

strephosymbolia “ A typical symptom of dyslexia in which letters are transposed, reversed, or confused; more generally a disorder in which objects are perceived in mirror image” (ANDREW M. COLMAN)

Identification of slow leaner in the class

Early diagnosis of slow learner child is very necessary between the ages of 2 to 6 years. How teacher or parents could identify, that the child is slow learner, with a careful observation they could easily identified signs of slow learner,

1.
Speech defect

  1. Language development problem (broken sentences)
  2. Assessments the level of vocabulary ( vocabulary limited)
  3. verbal abilities
  4. Short sentences, grammatically incorrect
  5. Child Behaviour
  6. Spelling Mistake
  7. Interaction with other children
  8. Class room Discussion
  9. Reading problem
  10. Interest
  11. Slow response / decision making

If it is identified that a child is slow learner, proper evaluation should be done to identify the weakness of the child, the following method can utilized for the evaluation purpose.

Evaluation

* Intelligence test

* Individuals intelligence test

* The Stanford-binet scale of intelligence test

(The Stanford-Binet intelligence scale is a standardized test that assesses intelligence and cognitive abilities in children and adults aged two to twenty three years, determining the presence of a learning disability or a developmental delay)

* Group test

* Attainment test

* Vocabulary test

* Test of Visual perception

* Spelling test

* Personality test

* Children Behaviour questionnaire

* Diagnostic test in reading and arithmetic

* Assessments of level of vocabulary, verbal abilities

* Attitude and interest


After evaluation and identification of slow learner the questions arise. How to handle these types of children in school environment?

How to teach them? What type of class they need?

Expert suggest that student should be not increase from 20 in class and different style of teaching has been suggested for different subject

Language Development Problem

Slow learner show the sign of slow learning in very begging during infancy, when child try to talk, parents should carefully observe the child and if they find that child is not able to talk they should contact doctor to find the reason, because early diagnosis in the initial 2-6 years good for the betterment of the child and step could be taken to improve the mental condition of the child, through medical care or psychological. The sign of language development problem in initial age are;

  • Speech defect: speech problem child will be not able to pronounce correct word,
  • Vocabulary limited: child will use Limited word for expression
  • Short sentences
  • Some children will not understand some words

How to improve the language development problem of the child in school level

· Teacher should pronounce the word clearly for the student and ask the student to repeat the word

· Teacher should used visual aid, it would help the student to understand it easily and memories it for long time

· Teacher should used flash cards for teaching Difficult words

· Use of memory cards and memory games

· Class room Discussion

· Stories-telling should be encouraged in class

· Dramatic activities

· Oral question and answer and understand them

· The ability to recognise Different pictures

· Listening and understanding skills should be developed

· Reading with meaning

Reading Problem

  • There are different method of teaching for reading problem, how to teach to a group or class of students. Expert suggest multiple teaching style because each student learn through different method, some student could learn better with one method, other will learn with other method. Teacher should be aware of the individual differences, For teaching reading to slow learner the following method should be used:
  • Teacher should use Charts to teach Words to E.S.N students.
  • Teacher can also used Memory flash cards,
  • Reading with meaning, is good method with which child easily understand and remember it.
  • Reading stories, collecting magazines, news papers and discus them in the class room
  • Pictures on wall with the stories can also help slow learner to remember and understand a word
  • Reading readiness workbook
  • Through activities, reading activates can also help in reading process
  • Visual activities, include TV and computer can help
  • finding missing parts
  • Memory games
  • Reading for information
  • Computer games, the best method for teaching reading process. These interactive games not only help slow learner in their reading process but it also help to increase their quick decision making ability.

Reading Material:

Reading material should be selected keeping in view the interest of the student in mind. Chose difficulty level from easy to difficult approach (age wise)

Teaching Spelling,

Spelling are very necessary for slow learner, because it help to form a word, a good speller well always be a good reader and writer , therefore teacher should give attention to teaching spelling to the students.

  • Teacher should write a word on board and ask to the student to write it in air, teach them the spelling in parts, so they know the sound of the word.
  • Competition of spelling between the students,
  • Check recheck method
  • Weakly test for spelling,
  • spelling games on computer, typing tutor game on computer


Teaching writing

Teaching writing require reading, understanding and spelling capabilities, if a student is good in these, he can learn writing easily, following are the few method which could be used for teaching of writing;

  • Encourage their writing, ignore their mistake in early stages
  • In early stages students write short sentences and grammatically incorrect sentences
  • Involve student in writing small stories
  • engage student in form filling, latter writing and Telegram according to their age
  • Involve students in form filling, diaries writing
  • Computer base writing games, where short answer are required for playing games.
  • Writing in school magazine, newspaper etc
  • At later time attention to the grammar, punctuation and full stop.
Social education

Social education is also very necessary for the slow learner; teacher and parent should give full attention to the social education of E.S.N. how to cross the road, how to reach home and other small thing that could help him in day to day life. It is not only the responsibility of a teacher to teach these things to slow learner but it is also the responsibility of parents too.

Teacher and parents should also involve other people to help these students e.g.

  • Psychologist of the school
  • Friends
  • School doctor/nurse
  • Other social agencies

References

Bell, P. (1970). Basic teaching for slow learners. London: Muller.

Hughes, J. (1973). The Slow Learner in Your Class (Nelson's Teacher Texts). london: Cengage Learning Australia.

Passow, H. (1972). Opening Opportunities for Disadvantaged Learners. New York: Teacher's College Press.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Growth and Development

by Sultan Muhammad


Introduction

Growth and development is the over all development of a person, physical and mental development. The process of development goes altogether in all fields, cognitive development, physical development, emotional development. When a child born it goes through different stages;

  • Childhood stage
  • Boyhood stage
  • Mature puberty
  • Adulthood stage

During all these stages child complete it growth and development and become adult.

Growth

From the very start of human life, changes start take place in human body. This physical change is known as growth. Growth is also quantitative in measure and could be seen in structural and physiological changes in the body.

The growth process is slow in nature and organized. These changes could be seen in the shape of height and weight, this phenomenon of changes in human body is called growth.

Development

With the growth process, there is another process which is called development, take place in the human body. This process is little different from growth process. With the time when changes take place in human body, human start shown other body functions, for example moving, crawl and after some time learn to stand and walk.

“Development means a progressive series of changes that occur in an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of maturation and experience” E.B. Hurlock.

The change in body functions, due to the changes in structure of body parts is called development.

Different parts of growth and development

1. Physical growth and development

2. Social growth and development

3. Emotional development

4. Mental development

1. Physical growth and development

It includes changes in weight and height and growth in different body parts, with the passage of time, it mainly depend on the diet and environmental condition as well as the home condition. A rich diet will help in better growth and development of a child.

2. Social growth and development

Social growth and development is very necessary because it helps the child to understand various norms and values and became a better person of the society.

3. Emotional development

Child by birth has different natural emotions and instincts and with the time some instincts and emotions disappear while with the time some new emotion and instincts manifest, according to psychologist, emotion are related to physical changes.

Environment also plays a vital role in the development of these emotions. And with the time it became the part of human personality.

4. Mental development

In the early stages the ideas of children are vague and unclear, with time gradually, these refined. It help the child to use his senses and develop the capacity to think and understand. It impel the growth in his metal ability, by the time when child reaches puberty his intelligence, level can be defined.

The metal growth of a child starts from the very first day of his life when he born and effect his whole life.

Stages of social, physical, emotional and mental development

  1. childhood (till 4 years)
  2. boyhood stage ( five to ten years)
  3. pre mature puberty ( to 15 year)
  4. adulthood stage (after 15 year)

Childhood stage

Early childhood is the time of a tremendous growth and development across all areas. The new born baby grows into a young person who can take care of his body with the help of other. It is the primary stage in which different skill development take place. This stage stays up to the age of four to five years and According to some expert up to eight year.

Physical development childhood stage

At the time of birth male child is born up to 7,5 pound and girl up to 7 pound. The height is above 52 centimetres. With the passage of time development is quite fast. Physically, in this stage up to three years a child doubles in weight and height. Children totally depend on others in this stage

Social Development in this stage

In this stage, the children like parents, siblings, home and toys. The child understands itself but is dependent on others.

Emotional development

At this stage child had inherent emotions. This stage is considered very important for the personality’s development. It is the foundation for the child building personality.

Mental Development

Each child has inherent intelligence; they feel happy when they satisfy. They do every thing what give them happiness regardless the consequences of their actions

Boyhood stage (up to 10 years)

This period is from five to ten years,

Physical development, in the boyhood stage physical development is comparatively slower than childhood stage. Child grows at the rate of two inches per anum, especially the child grows in height in this stage.

Social development

In this stage children love to play games, children learn to adjust it self in environment and make new friends, they feel happy to participate in activities in home with parents

Emotional development

This stage is also very important in the life of a child, In this stage children are very emotional and keen to learn. In this stage they understand their relation with the other members of the society and relatives.

Mental development

At this stage up to the age six years and according to some psychologist at the age of eight years the brain complete and all five senses are developed and used. At this stage the child should be given special attention and involved him in the learning base activities to develop his brain.

5. Adolescence stage (10 to 15 year)

Adolescence is a Latin word, which derived from the word “adolescere” meaning to grow up, or grow to maturity. This period is from 10 to 15 years of age, it is a period of life between the age of child hood and adulthood

The adolescent stage is another period of accelerated growth. Individual can grow up to four inches, and increase in weight up to ten pounds per year. At the end of this stage, individuals may gain seven to nine inches in height and forty to forty five pounds in weight.

Physical Growth and Development

This stage is slow until the age of 12 years, after 12 years it speed up till the age of 15 years, in this stage individual increase in height and weight, girls growth in reproductive organs and voice became mature and start of periods, boys grow moustaches

Social development

Increase in friends in this stage, the child is attractive to opposite sex and like to here stories of heroes and fore fathers

Emotional development

This stage bring strange feeling to them, many new emotion manifested and children became very touchy, at this stage they like to talk to opposite sex, sexual desires in this stage are very power full. In this stage careful guidance of an adult is required, to help them in understanding and controlling these emotions

Mental development

Child is very suspicious about every one, he want to know about every thing, weakness in self confidence and like to talks to adults and behave like adults and very moody. At this stage child develop self willpower and determination

Adulthood age (after 15 years)

This stage begins after the age of fifteen years, this is the stage where the child crosses the stage of childhood to manhood, and became an adult. Enter in to practical life and begin facing the challenges of life, get married and starts his own family.

Physical development

Physical development is very slow at this stage and stop after a certain age, and after that it decline with the passage of time

Social Development

Get married, have children of their own and take responsibilities and become a active member of the society

Emotional development

Lack of coordination between mental and physical maturity in this stage

Mental development

Intelligence until the age of 6 to 8 years and maintain standard after that, after the age of 60 years, the stage of decline come in intelligence.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Writing Research Report

by Sultan Muhammad

Research report writing is complex procedure, it require guidance and skills to follow the rules of research report writing. The aim is to write about your research topic clearly so that the reader can easily understand the purpose and results of your research.

The Structure

A research report most contain following sections; preliminary, body and supplementary. Each of these main parts consists of a number of sections

Preliminary Material

  • Title of report
  • Table of Contents (optional)
  • Abstract / Synopsis

Body of the Report

  • Introduction
  • Literature Review (some times part of Introduction)
  • Methodology
  • Statement of the report (what you want to do)
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Recommendations

Supplementary material

  • Appendices
  • References

Steps involved in research report writing

1. Analyze your task, what are expectations from your research work. Keep in mind the following questions when evaluate the task

* The purpose of your report

· Target population

* Limitation of your study

· Out line your plan

· Collection of data

· Keep record of your visits and material

· Keep record of books for References

Preliminary Material

Title of report

  • Give crystal clear information of your research topic to the reader. It should be no longer than one sentence
  • Table of contents:

List of all chapters, headings, sub heading and tables/graphs and give them page numbers

Abstract

  • it give a very brief overview of the whole report. The abstract should be as brief as possible, not more than one informative paragraph

it give sufficient information to the reader about the report, including what the investigation has found.

Body of report

Introduction:

Introduction gives the background information and include a brief review of the relevant literature.what is the importance of the study.

Literature Review

Review of literature related to your topic is the most important part of your research report; the researcher should search already available data on the topic. In the light of literature review the researcher may structure his findings.

Methodology

Methodology means the method the researcher used in his research; what to do and how to do

  • Usually written in passive voice
  • written in past tense
  • Give proper reference of material from other sources.
  • Relevant diagrams, graphs and charts.

Results

Here the researcher give the findings of his research with out any interpretation

Discussion

Here researcher discusses the relevance of his results and findings in the light of literature review and purpose of statement.

Conclusion

Here the researcher draws the conclusion of his study, summaries the significant of his results, findings and highlight limitation of the study

Recommendations

In this section researcher include his suggestions and recommendation in the light of his finding for the purpose of improvement.

Supplementary material

References or Bibliography

This section includes references of the related material referred in the report in APA or MLA style. For examples;

Bell, P. (1970). Basic teaching for slow learners. London: Muller.

Hughes, J. (1973). The Slow Learner in Your Class (Nelson's Teacher Texts). london: Cengage Learning Australia.

Appendices

Any other extra information the researcher wants to add in his report. only the raw data should be presented in an Appendix

Monday, June 30, 2008

Problems of School Teachers & Students in Pakistan

SULTAN MUHAMMAD KHAN

Introduction.

Education is the backbone in the development of any nation. It is a fact that countries that have an effective system of education also happen to be the leaders of the world, both socially and economically. In short it is education, which can turn the population of any country from a burden to human resource.

The key to development is good education system, which is solely based on negligible problems for both the teachers and the students. In this article we will be discussing the problems being faced by both the Teachers and Students in our education system.

Problems of teachers.

It is a fact that Pakistan is one of those very few countries where the system of education has constantly eroded since independence. The situation at present is so worst that the government has officially declared our system of education to be almost collapsing and is employing all possible ways and means on emergency basis for the speedy uplift of our educational system.

Till this day all the studies has shown that with the passage of time the problems being faced by both the teachers and students multiplied. During this period no one paid any attention to them and instead wasted almost all the energies and resources on improvement of buildings and changes in curriculum. One of the key indicator of the above is the fact that since independence a lot of socially un-acceptable professions had achieved social acceptance, whereas it teachers who have lost their social acceptance.

1. Respect in Society. The first and foremost factor in choosing a profession anywhere is the respect that it gives to a person who joins it. As already touched above teaching is constantly loosing its respect. The situation is so bad today that qualified people opt for other professions and majority of persons joining this profession are of quit a low caliber.

2. Financial problems. The other most important factor, which in majority of the cases is as important as social respect that a profession commands is the financial benefits which a person, derives from it. The salary of our teacher is quite meager and is not enough to lead a decent life and support a healthy family. Dues to this majority of teachers resort to a number of ways and means to supplement their income. This not only diverts the attention of the teacher but also brings a bad name to this once the most respected profession. If it is ensured that a teacher gets enough financial benefits with which he can lead a decent life, he will then be in a position to invest all his energies in doing justice to his profession.

3. Frequent Transfers between schools. It has been observed that majority of the teachers are not only posted away from the cities/villages they belong to but are also subjected to very frequent transfers. It is a human nature that it takes time to accustom to any new environment. By posting teachers away from their native cities/villages and then subjecting them to frequent transfers, they never get accustomed to the schools & students, which greatly diminishes their productivity. This also has another angle i.e. the students too needs time to get to know a teacher and it is only when they understand each other they can communicate positively.

Frequent transfers also have a negative effect on the family life of teachers especially the education of their children.

4. Unavailability of Accommodation: Accommodation is a major irritant in the sound family life of teachers. Due to absence of official accommodation majority of the time of a teacher is spent in finding an accommodation, which he can afford. It has been observed that when finally a teacher finds an accommodation his next transfer is almost due. This keep the teacher greatly disturbed, normally they are away from their families most of the time. According to teachers this is one of the major factors why the children of teachers on the average are poor in their studies.

5. Transportation. Transportation is related to accommodation. It has been seen that in majority of the cases teachers reside at distance from the schools. Also they can afford decent transport due to which they are reported to come late and leave as early as possible. Due to recent hike in transportation costs it is reported that the cases of unreported absence from duty has also become very common.

6. Training and education qualification: It is a fact that once teachers are inducted in our education system they are seldom provided any training of substance. Due to lack of training they are not aware of challenges of the future and hence are unable to prepare their students to play their due role.

7. Political and social problems: Since independence all the institutions of our society have become very politicized. Teaching profession is no exception to this. Majority of the induction is on political grounds. A teacher inducted through this system is not liable to merit but to the political interest of the political force that has inducted the person and so commits all kinds of blunders to favor them. The negative impact of politics is so great that who ever wants to uphold merit is punished severely.

8. Teacher headmaster relation: As already discussed above that the negative influence of politics in education is deep rooted. Due to this factor only those persons who work for the political forces get to the top. Persons who reach to the top using their political influences pay no attention to developing cordial relations with their staff. Good relations of headmaster and his teachers are very important in improving the over-all performance teachers.

9. Grouping in school. As already discussed above our educational institutions are greatly infected with negative politics. The number of groups within an educational institution is equivalent to the number of political parties in our country. These groups fight among themselves the way our politicians fight on the national scene due to which they are never able to play their positive role. This in majority of cases engulf the student community too, which makes things worst.

10. Over Crowded Classrooms: Due to lack of realistic investment in our educational institutions since independence, the pressure on schools has increased many folds. On the average a single teacher teaches at least sixty students in a classroom which was basically meant for thirty students. The scene of multiple classes being taught in a single room by a single teacher is very common in our primary schools. It should be kept in mind that it is here that students require maximum personal attention. In our educational system mostly the teacher is unable to recognize his student, the question of personal attention cannot even be imagined.

11. Communication problem: Our system of education lacks communication between teaching staff, parents, headmasters, and the concerned higher authorities. Due to this they are unable to coordinate and make consolidated efforts for the uplift of the educational system and end-up blaming each other.

12. Medium of instruction: Due the existence of multi-medium of instruction as well as ever changing medium of instruction confuses both the giver and the recipient. The absence of proper orientation confuses the teacher so greatly that they lose interest in their profession. What can be expected from a teacher who has lost his interest?

13. Inefficient and insufficient teachers. As already discussed above majority of our teachers are inducted through political connections who lack ability to teach. On top of this they are never provided training, which can transform them into good teachers. These coupled with the fact that they are made to face an overcrowded classroom, which even a qualified teacher cannot face, makes a nightmare of the whole situation. As already discussed in majority of our primary schools, a single teacher not only teaches multiple classes under a tree or in a shabby room but also administers/ manages the school too. In case the teacher goes on leave the school is closed till the teacher returns or another teacher is posted.

14. Absence of qualitative teacher training programs: As already discussed once a teacher is inducted he seldom goes through any training. In case a teacher is fortunate enough to go for training it never ever is of any quality and hence there exists no grooming facility for a teacher.

15. Absence of proper physical facilities and educational instruments and appliances. In order to impart proper education a teacher requires a number of aides to achieve this goal. These include a variety of audio visual aids also known as teaching kits etc. In the absence of these aids a teacher fails to explain all the concepts theoretically and mostly ends-up confusing the students.

16. Absence of maintenance of pupils` cumulative record cards: Due to lack of facilities, training of teachers and burden of work our teachers never maintain cumulative record cards. Their absence on the one hand makes it difficult for the school staff to analyze a student and on the other hand each and every teacher assesses a student himself, which at times is misleading too.

17. Lack of co-ordination among schools of the same type or with other school: Where their exists no coordination inside a school, how can coordination among schools be imagined. Due to this lack of coordination, discussion of mutual problems never takes place and hence no collective and positive measures can be taken towards the resolution of these problems.

18. Response from different Govt of Pakistan’s line agencies: It has also been observed that different line agencies of the Govt. of Pakistan such as Education Department, WAPDA, C&W, District Administration etc. whose job is to supplement the efforts of school teachers has failed to respond to the genuine needs of the school teachers. Since these agencies do not take them seriously due to which the teachers have stopped to approach them, hence a door towards improvement has also been closed almost permanently.

Problems Of Students:

In Pakistan the problems being faced by students are as numerous as that being faced by teachers if not more. These mainly includes the following:

1. Lack of guidance. Our student is the most unguided student in the world. Neither the parent due to their ignorance nor the teachers due to lack of professionalism are able to guide them. Lack of guidance is very serious problem which student face in our country; in Pakistan education maximum parents are uneducated so they can’t guide their children. Due to which they cant chose proper subject and proper filed as well as they cant get good marks because no can help them in home work. While on other side those students who have proper guidance they get good marks.

2. Poverty and Financial problem. Pakistan is an underdeveloped nation, majority of our people are living on the poverty line who can barely make their both ends meet. They cannot afford even the negligible fees being charged in the government institutions, let alone the books and uniforms for which they are to pay from their own pockets. Majority of our young ones are child labor, they indulge in child labor not only to feed them selves but to support their families too.

3. Lack of Trained teachers: There are no trained teachers in our education system. The purpose of early/primary education is to induce in to the students an interest of education but children are exposed to untrained teachers in their early stage of education they lose interest in education and results in early dropouts.

4. Lack of proper learning aids and laborites. Our schools are devoid of proper laborites and learning aids. Due to this students are bombarded with theoretical concepts, which in the absence of the required audiovisual learning aids and laboratories confuses the students. As a result of this the students lose their interest in education after which either they drop out or rely on practices like cheating, bribing teachers etc.

5. Fear complex

To camouflage their inability teachers grow a fence of fear around them selves. They resort to indiscriminate punishments resultantly some of the students run away from schools and the rest become docile with no interest in education but to spend time aimlessly.

6. Psychological problems. Students due to high expectations of their families and absence of guidance for both the parents and students experience a lot of psychological stress, which has a retarding effect on their growth.

8. Transfer of teachers. Frequent transfer of teachers leaves no room for the development of mutual understanding and respect for each other. The moment they start to understand each other, the teacher is transferred. Once this process is repeated a few times with a student, the student closes himself to teachers in future.

9. Socio-economic condition. Due to bad socio-economic conditions of majority of our students they are not very attentive to what is being imparted to them and neither can they practice it at homes.

10. Biased and traditional measures for evaluation of pupil: Students are evaluated in our institutions not on the basis of their abilities but on the basis of their class. This disheartens students who have weak financial/social backgrounds. Also our examination system evaluates students not on the basis of their cognitive abilities but is more of a rote memory test. All this is simply due to the fact that modern evaluation techniques are not applied.

11. Absence of appropriate textbooks. Students are subjected to inappropriate textbooks, which in the absence of appropriate reference books makes the situation worst. School libraries are filled with irrelevant books majority of which being story books, which too are kept under lock & key out of the reach of students.

12. Stress. Students are physically stressed due to the fact that they start early in the morning and walk long distances to schools, on reaching schools they are subjected to physical punishments and when they return they are given substantial amount of homework for which they have no guidance. I addition to this they are short of time as they have to take care of different home related chores such as feeding cattle, bringing fodder etc.

13. Loneliness. Due to mental stress and too much work students have no time to develop social relations and the feeling of loneliness overtakes them. This leads to depression and mental sickness, which is taken by society as being under the influence of spirits. To cure this they are taken to different shrines which majority of times results into partial mental disability.

14. Communication problem: Their exists a lot of communication gaps between students, teachers and parents. Due to this gap neither the teachers nor the parents come to understand the students, resultantly they enforce upon them their wishes. This enforcement develops a rebellious or a docile nature in the students, which retard the positive abilities.

15. Medium of instruction: Our students are subjected to very frequent changes in the medium of instruction. In the process the best they can do is to learn to read one of the languages. Majority is unable to understand what is written in the text. They memorize the text and recopy it in examination, which kills the basic aim of education.

16. Classroom environment: The class rooms are over-crowded due to which the students are unable to take personal attention of the teacher resultantly they are unable to communicate to the teacher their problems, resultantly their problems never get resolved.

17. Lack of facilities for Co-circular activities: Their exists no facilities for co-curricular activities of the students. Very few schools have playing grounds, which due to wrong planing of the school management are very overcrowded in school breaks (since the whole school is given a break at the same time) provide no space for any kind of sport. Also there are no provisions for sport goods due to which children run aimlessly in school breaks. Which inculcates in them an aimless attitude/behavior.

18. Drug addiction. Due to non-serious attitude of the teachers and school management students at a very early age get exposed to menaces like smoking and use of snuff, which according to psychologists are a gateway to more serious additions such as hash and heroin. It has also been observed that it is in fact the teachers and parents of the students who use these things openly in front of students and hence work as a role models for students on their way to getting into the habit of smoking and use of snuff.


Reference:

01. TEACHER EDUCATION MODERN TRENDS by MOHIT CHAKRABARTI

Friday, June 13, 2008

Leadership in Islamic Perspective

Leadership in the Islamic Perspective Regarding our Culture

by Sultan Muhammad

Introduction

Leadership is the ability of a person to lead a group of people to achieve a given task, Leadership is an inspiration for the people, and those people are leaders who inspire others. Leaders are present around us, we can see them in every day life, when some one among them attain the level where he can demonstrate and exercise his ability for the common purpose, they excel and then we recognise them as a leader

Objective of the study

Define leader ship concept in Islam

Explore the concept of Islamic leadership in our culture

Islamic Leadership

Mohammad (peace be upon him) is the greatest leader of world, in the history of mankind there is no other person who can reach to his level or status. He is model for all humanity, how to lead the people, if we read all the modern books about leadership today, we will see the qualities of Mohammad (peace be upon him) in these books. How he guide his followers, how he inspire the people of Arab at that time. Imagine about the people of Arab at that moment, most of them were illiterate and rigid and ready to kill each other for nothing, buried alive baby girls when born in their family.

Mohammad (peace be upon him) motivated those people and changed them completely, from negative to positive and those were the Arab who later on ruled half of the world for a long time

Morshed Abul Ala defines Islamic leader ship” A person or a group that will lead humanity from the brink of destruction to the way of Allah the Almighty

To understand the model of Islamic leadership, examine the life of our beloved prophet and his companion as Leaders and the qualities they have;

Inspired the people

Love and kindness for his follower.

Built relationship between them like brothers

Trust them and give them the lesson of trust and Build trust between them

Give respect to the people

Create the environment of Confidence between them

Always open to suggestion

Acceptable as a leader

Ready to sacrifice his own interest for the sack of others

Understand the responsibilities

Open-minded

Ability of quick decision making

To understand the problem of the people

Communication skills

Planning

Organizing ( utilizing the resources to reach the target )

Implementing of the plan

Dynamic ready to lead every time

Islamic leader is the man of words

Leadership is all about vision , can see there, where no other can see

Difference between Islamic and secular leadership

  • The aim of Secular leadership's is self-establishment. While Islamic Leadership's target the community, to achieve Jannatul Firdaws (Highest position in Paradise)
  • Secular leaderships work for pleasure and respect boss. Islamic Leaderships work for the pleasure of Allah.

Leadership problem in Pakistan is not new, from the very begging of Pakistan after the death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first governor general of Pakistan. We had never found a sincere leader who addresses the real problems of Pakistan and to lead the people of Pakistan. Due to these reason Pakistani people are still looking for good leader who can solve their problems and lead them on the path of development and prosperity. Every time when a new government comes into power, people see them with the hope that they would take real steps and take the country to a new phase. But they never find the leader who has the courage to fight with the corrupt establishment, who could make a real team from the people of Pakistan.

The questions arise, where the problem lays, why we are not creating great and an honest leader, who can lead us? The answers to these questions can be here some where in our society, there is no doubt that we have great leader all round us, but the problem is, we are not recognising them, it is due to lack of education in our country, the lack of awareness on the part of the people. The majority of Pakistani people could not read newspaper, they did not know the people, who they are sending to the assemblies, those are maximum corrupt people and they have no character.

It is because, we ignore the basic philosophy of Islam, that tell us to select a honest person to lead you to the right direction, to lead you in the prayers and other walks of life, Islam has given us great models in leadership after Mohammad (peace be upon him) in every century.

It is the duty of teachers in Pakistan to create awareness in the students about the teachings of Islam and to create leadership and refine the student and polish their leadership qualities, it is also the responsibility of a teacher to become a reformer and educate the people around him, to select honest and educated people for their representation in every walk of life, the people who know the values of Islam and admire them,

For this purpose we need leaders in schools and colleges, who train young mind to right direction, who spread the light of knowledge in the darkness.

References

Abul Ala, . (n.d.). Principles of Islamic Leadership. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http://www.youngmuslims.ca/articles/display.asp?ID=26.

Ahmed, A. (1987). Pakistan Society: Islam, Ethnicity and Leadership in South Asia. New York: Oxford University Press, USA.

Bangash, Z. (2001). Concepts of Leader and Leadership in Islam, The. New York: Crescent Publications.

ISLAM,HEAVEN,HELL

 H E A V E N Originally the term “Heaven” referred to the sky or the area above the earth where the “Heavenly bodies” are placed.  Heaven (A...