SYLLABI/textbooks by some private education institutions is apparently being overlooked by the authorities.

The specific and very critical area I want to highlight is overburdening the innocent children with heavy syllabus. For example, it has been observed that students of science group in VIII class are assigned the syllabus of IX class in certain private institutions.

We know books for different classes are prescribed by committees and textbook boards comprising seasoned educationists, keeping in view besides other factors, the age group and cognitive level of children.

Private school administrators seem to be outrightly rejecting the thoughtful decision of syllabi boards.

Resultantly, only some intelligent children, who are usually in limited numbers, can cope with and grasp the difficult syllabus of a higher level, while most average students feel difficulty in understanding it.

This also causes different kinds of stresses and complications for them as they fall into complexes vis-à-vis their intelligent class fellows.

I recently met a child counsellor and trainer. She endorsed the concern stated above and said that this situation was creating negative effects on children, especially those in teen age. So this should be a matter of concern for parents and society at large.

Educational regulatory bodies need to come forward to address this issue.

Zainab Waheed

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2018