needed an expert's advice

geethavinod · Feb 20, 2015

I am a mother of 2 kids, my son is studying in IV std and daughter in I std of CBSE syllabus, yesterday they had an entrance test in their former school where they studied for two years and it is an ICSE syllabus. We had to change the former school as the school van was not coming near to the house, they drop the children near the corner of the road to our house and as they were very small at that time to cross the roads and come home, we had to change. Now, as they have grown up a bit, when asked they said that they have no problem to cross the roads and come home, so we tried for the admission in their former school again.

After the entrance test, the school authorities said that as my son is bit weak in studies, he can be admitted to IV std itself and we will give him good training so it will be easy for him in V std. But my son doesn't like to study in the same class again and one of his academic year will be wasted.

We are trying to change the present school as we are not satisfied with the teaching method.

Kindly advice as what to do?

With warm regards
Geetha

butterflyice · Feb 20, 2015

What is your opinion on your son's standard in studies? YOu can probably gauge this by asking him some questions from 4th std ICSE textbook or even his current CBSE textbook. If you think he is on par try to convince the school to let him to the 5th standard and that you will coach him at home. After all CBSE and ICSE are not too different. Explain to them how retaining him in 4th will demoralise him and argue on his behalf. Also point out that he studied in that school previously.

OTOH do you think they are expecting donation?

guesshoo · Feb 20, 2015

OP, it is alright. If it is a very good school, repeating a year would not be a problem. Kne year doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. In case your son goes to 5th and he is not able to cope, his confidence will take a hit. At the same time, if he were on 4th again it would help build his confidence which is more important anyday than losing a year.

as a parent, it will be up to you to explain to him that this school has a different 4th which he has to go through before he could go to 5th.

ive seen this happening in india and in the UK. The school, if it is reputed, isn't just doing this to blackmail the parents into giving more money. It is doing so because they don't want the child to struggle. And kids who have done this have gone on to do well later on. This is a non-issue.

surekhasarathy · Feb 20, 2015

First of all aren't there any other school whose van drop the kids near your house .can somebody(maid) not pick up your kids and drop them home.why only the same school . can't you try some other options of transport. is the school taking you for granted or expects some donations. Please do not repeat the same class.

Shanvy · Feb 20, 2015

OP, you should not have moved them out of the school in the first place if it was just logistics of transport. what is done is done.

all said there has been too many changes in the system that the studies until 4-5 in a cbse school has got diluted a lot. and some schools take it more easy too.

the evaluation could be true. why not talk to the school and discuss about helping him during the summer vacation and reevaluating the decision when the school reopens. if you can get that 2-1.5 months in which you can make him come in par with the icse 4th syllabus.

do compare the books http://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/textbook/textbook.htm and the icse books and check out for your own satisfaction if he is lagging in comparison to icse. if so you need to take a call. sometimes doing one more year is far easiery on the kid than taxing and pressurising him to perform. it will be a long process till he completes his 12th which will be a emotional roller coaster.

prepare your son, as some of his old friends would be in a higher class in the icse school and also explaining to him that doing the same class again sometime works better. (never equate it to failure.)

pantu · Feb 28, 2015

Ask your former school if they can give the training on summer vacation. If your former school is a reputed school and their teaching method is better than your present school then you should stick to it.