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| Scientific temper can be created by teaching the science subjects differently | | |
There’s been a growing concern over the declining interest in the pursuit of science and therefore it is welcome news that the Government has taken cognisance of it. Many colleges in cities all over the country have closed down their science departments for want of takers. If none of the top students from the IIT-JEE ranks even consider pursuing studies in the science faculties, it is time to sit up and think. The office of the principal scientific adviser to the Government of India has now decided to initiate steps to encourage a more active interest in science while addressing the problem at various levels. Strengthening the departments in universities and colleges where more and more students have been opting out of a science career, and revising the curriculum and the methods of examinations, are among the suggestions mooted.
While many institutions can gain from an upgradation of the infrastructure and modification of the curriculum, this alone would not help. Much of this paucity for science graduates stems from the perception that a science career is not rewarding in terms of lucrative jobs. At a time when the job market for IT personnel sees burgeoning pay packets, the fact that scientists are way below in the ladder does not help attract youth. There should be efforts to create more attractive job opportunities for students of science.
But again, it would be erroneous to address the whole thing from the viewpoint of jobs and money alone. Overall if science has to be made more attractive, the problem has to be addressed at the education level. It is here that a love for science can be nurtured or killed. Science has to be taught differently from other subjects — by invoking the spirit of inquiry and wonder, by inviting the student to think for himself, to throw up various solutions to a problem, to continuously question everything till the equations are solved. There can be no role for learning by rote in science. More project-oriented learning that initiates individual thinking and more experiment-based teaching should go a long way in cultivating a scientific temper. Only then can we hope to have students motivated to pursue a career in science irrespective of comparative salary packages. Only then can we expect research-based academies to attract a high standard of students. Especially in these times when India is being looked up to as a knowledge leader, we cannot let this advantage slip past science.
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