What Stops Schools From Going Out Of The Syllabus

aving worked as a program coordinator in schools I have realized the importance of introducing an external program to schools, I have also realized how difficult it is to convince schools to go out of their syllabus.

When I started working as a freelancer, I approached a couple of schools with my ideas of introducing an out of the box - gaining perspective workshops in schools, Sustainable development programs, and other such 21st-century skills workshops for students, I was surprised to know how difficult it was to get schools on board.

Most of the school authorities and management were fixated on academic results and they were unwilling to experiment with anything beyond their syllabus. They saw no merit in introducing anything that would take away time from academics.

I strongly believe that students need to be introduced to external programs to get exposure and learn new things. It helps them develop a broader perspective and also introduces them to different career options.

I have organized volunteering opportunities for students and I have seen how it helps them develop leadership skills and also learn to work in a team. These are essential life skills that cannot be taught from books alone.

Some of the students have gone to work in Blue Cross, Goonj, Bhumi, Teach for India, and other organizations after their workshop with me and they have come back to tell me how the experience has changed their lives.

Despite all this, schools are still reluctant to go out of their syllabus. I believe there are many reasons for this fear:

1) They are scared of trying something new: Most schools follow the same curriculum that has been in place for many years. They are reluctant to try anything new because they are afraid of change.

2) They are worried about the results: Many schools are under pressure to produce high academic results. They see no value in introducing anything that will take away from academic time.

At the same time when it comes to preparing them for their college, students desperately seek to volunteer to add experience to their extracurricular.

3) They are afraid of the unknown: Schools often have a fixed idea of what they want their students to learn. They are afraid of anything that falls outside of this scope.

4) They don’t want to take risks: Many schools are risk-averse when it comes to introducing new programs. They worry that something might go wrong or that it will be a waste of time and resources.

5) They don’t think their students are ready: Schools sometimes feel that their students are not ready for anything beyond the syllabus. They worry that they will not be able to keep up with the pace of the program.

6) There are many limitations schools set when it comes to getting in touch with the kids' parents, In India, parents are very protective of their children and they want them to focus only on academics which again is a major reason why schools find it difficult to go out of syllabus.

Of course, parents need to be informed of every decision that the schools take to provide these experiences to students, the lag comes when parents hardly open their emails.

7) Contacting students looks impossible: Once the school decides to take a step out, contacting each student and their parents become a herculean task for the school authority. The school has to make sure that every parent is on board with the decision and that they are comfortable with their child attending these programs. Students are always on phones and that is the best way to reach them but schools want to be in denial and want to use only emails.

Not having student's phone numbers

8) There are very few people who have the time to dedicate:  Even if the school is ready to take the plunge, they often don’t have the manpower to dedicate to these programs. They lack the resources and the personnel to make these programs a success. Schools do not want to invest in facilitators for this purpose alone, they want the existing staff to double up and play multiple roles.

I have personally approached so many schools offering these programs as a freelancer but they want you to come for a 9 to 4 job and do everything - from taking classes to planning these activities, being a part of the PTA, and also maintaining files.

While some say they can't have a facilitator for these programs alone, the fact is that these programs need a lot of manpower and dedication which the existing staff might not be able to provide.

9) Teachers have too much resistance to joining any external program : 

This is one of the most important points. I have worked in many schools and the fact is that the teachers are so bogged down with their daily work that they hardly have any time for anything else. They are reluctant to take on any additional responsibility and feel that it will only add to their workload.

The school authorities need to understand that if they want their teachers to be a part of these programs, they need to give them the time and space to do so. They cannot expect them to do it on top of everything else they have to do.

I believe that these are all valid concerns but I also believe that they can be overcome. There are many ways to introduce new programs without compromising on academics or taking away valuable class time.

For example, schools can introduce new programs during lunch breaks, after school hours, or on weekends. They can also offer credit or extra-curricular points for students who participate in these programs.

I believe that schools need to be more open to introducing new programs and extracurricular activities. Students need to be exposed to different perspectives and ideas in order to develop a well-rounded view of the world. They also need to learn essential life skills that cannot be taught from books alone.

Thankfully many organizations are coming forward and providing internships, workshops, and other opportunities to help students gain exposure and experience.

I understand the pressure that schools are under to perform well academically, but I believe that there is a need for a change in mindset. Schools need to realize that exposing students to different programs can only help them in the long run. It is time for schools to break out of their comfort zone and experiment with something new.