Rameez Makhdoomi
Srinagar, Dec 06 (KNB): Rote learning is still drawing negative impacts on the education system of Kashmir. In common parlance, ‘Rote learning’ is a learning technique which keeps away from understanding of a subject and instead focuses on memorization. The major practice involved in rote learning is learning by repetition. The crux of rote learning has been that one will be able to swiftly recall the meaning of the material the more one repeats it.
Experts state that Rote learning is widely used in the mastery of foundational knowledge. Examples include phonics in reading, the periodic table in chemistry, multiplication tables in mathematics, anatomy in medicine, cases or statutes in law, basic formulas in any science, etc. Rote learning, destroys comprehension and creativity thus it has been found as an ineffective tool in mastering any complex subject at an advanced level .It also does not help a student to crack high level competitive exams and produces educated pupils who have very limited hold on their subjects, as rote learning ignores creativity and comprehension which are must for achieving par-excellence in a particular area if study. .
Danish Bhat, a researcher said “Rote learning has been direly impacting our education system. We have inherited mostly a type of education system that produces students like robots that possess an astonishing capacity for storing facts and churning them out at the press of the right button. As a result of this positive traits like independent thinking, value judgments problem-solving ability, initiative, leadership skills and social competence fall by the wayside as getting high grades becomes their only objective. Rote learning is the main reason behind this mess and ironically it is our current education system that lays its foundations. The net consequences we have seen in form of inherent problems in our education system, we in order to make a substantial impact on global competitive level need reforms”
Kashmir education system journey in becoming rote learning free still looks a distant goal.(KNB)