THERE is much discussion these days about the excessive burden of homework on young children. As a prospective educator, I strongly believe that learning should be a child’s favourite hobby, not a stressful chore. Our rigid education system burdens young minds with repetitive homework that limits creativity and exploration.

In the words of John Dewey, education is “not preparation for life; education is life itself”. Unfortunately, our system emphasises rote memorisation instead of fostering curiosity which makes learning a tiresome task rather than an exciting journey.

Maria Montessori emphasised that the act of playing is actually “the work of the child”, which draws attention to the importance of experiential learning. Homework in schools should be replaced by more stimulating projects that enhance critical thinking skills instead of written work.

According to Albert Einstein, education is not the learning of facts, “but the training of the mind to think”. Education is not solely about memorising the information. Rather than propelling a mechanical approach to revision, we should endorse inquiry-based learning where students are given the freedom to select topics that appeal to their interests.

It is time for the educators and policy-makers to shift their focus from mechanical homework to meaningful, experience-driven education. By reducing excessive homework and incorporating interactive, play-based strategies, we can nurture young minds to love learning instead of fearing the process. A well-structured, learner-centred approach will improve academic growth, and instil a love for learning.

Yumna Hassan Latki
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025