Sir,

I assume, you are a teacher. I think, I have to disagree with you. Rarely the attention and time (important) goes to the low performing students. And if the attention is really going to the low performing student, I will say ..GREAT.

Because, the objective of education is to 'enable' the student to perform. The high performers are already on that platform. But the low performers are unable to reach there either because of low IQ level, less opportunity, family or personal reasons or some times financial. So, we should, try to elevate them.

As a senior member in the field, you know well, it has happened in earlier days. But the dedication of the teachers of your generation can't see in the new generation teachers.

May be because, I was an average / low scorer, I strongly feel and advocate for the support to low performers.

Sir,

I assume, you are a teacher. I think, I have to disagree with you. Rarely the attention and time (important) goes to the low performing students. And if the attention is really going to the low performing student, I will say ..GREAT.

Because, the objective of education is to 'enable' the student to perform. The high performers are already on that platform. But the low performers are unable to reach there either because of low IQ level, less opportunity, family or personal reasons or some times financial. So, we should, try to elevate them.

As a senior member in the field, you know well, it has happened in earlier days. But the dedication of the teachers of your generation can't see in the new generation teachers.

May be because, I was an average / low scorer, I strongly feel and advocate for the support to low performers.

The teacher should direct his lecture towards average students. To stimulate interest and curiosity of high performing students, there should be occasional dose of real life and challenging examples and assignments. The very weak students be catered in the tutorial classes, where class size being small, more attention could be devoted to individuals. Similarly, evaluation system should also involve some challenging problems to cater to the intellect of high performers. Of course, average class level may also very drastically (say in IITs or some average college), which should be taken note of.

I don't think weak students are given much attention. In the postgraduate level, nobody wants weak students. This is a very sad scenario.

The bright students are motivated and understand well the lectures. Their motivation is rewarded with high notes on the examination. What a professor can do for them? Certainly hire in his research activity. If they do not want, he (she) can give some advices for their future career. In the times when I was student in Poland, there were some special study arrangement for good students. They could have taken some more lectures or even some more specialities.

I would strees up the useful advices for such students. Each society and each nation should carry about bright students and they should be particularly well guided to be useful for us all.

Exactly @Lech Pawlowski, bright students are the future of any country! In my country SERBIA, thousands and thousands of young educated people-experts left country in last twenty years, and they are now among the best in their fields all over the world. There are some efforts for bringing them back, but it is hard job. A young proffesional from Yale is going to become a Minister of finance tomorrow! Is it a light at the end of the tunnel?

Regards,

Ljubomir Jacic

Dear Ljubomir, the world is open today. The people travel and work wherever they want. If they work well they bring some glory for their native country and its education system.

For high achievers and high performing students accolade is must and continuous appreciation can boost their self esteem which activate the cell in brain that increase their confident which make them strong enough to do anything.

Apart from this, today's world need innovation that can change the face of world.. These kinds of students should be drag with inspiration to research field where their ideas can make many things possible. They must be involve in many decision making projects where they can put up their innovative mind which drag them toward creativity. Then only they will become the real achievers and world would be happy to achieve them with their high performance.

I disagree, with due respect to your good intentions.

Why should average students be admitted to those courses?

I speak with reference to specific case of engineering education, not everybody is meant to be an engineer! If he or she has the aptitude and attitude, they should be admitted to the course. It is very difficult for any teacher to manage the large number of average and above average students! We don't have so many good teachers to do what all of you are suggesting! In a time when teaching has become a job and not a calling... what more can you expect?

In my opinion, it is only the high achievers that will make a difference to the country. We need to orient them to stay and solve a challenging problem of our country instead of leaving abroad for greener pastures. It is easier said than done, though. One step at a time and we will.

With due respect to the teachers, I tend to disagree with the opinion of Ananth, Pragyan, Jacic etc.

As Viswanath pointed out, when we refer to 'poor performing student' we are referring that particular group, not the whole country or the world. Around 10-15 years back, a serious cases were reported from some of the top IIT of the country. As we know, those who manage to IITs are the best of the lot from the country thru GATE. But in a class of 20 (or 25), some one need to be on 20th or 25th rank. That student who was college / university or sometimes the state topper, now feel like the 'last bench man' - this mental depression is surely a result of the attitude of the teachers towards the high performers.

No doubt, talent and skills need appreciation to grow up further. And there are enough opportunities like medal, scholarships, appreciation etc for the high performers. So, when it call for attention of poor performers too, it is not at the cost of substituting those facilities for the toppers. Here, the appeal is attention for the 'lagger' too

Dear Vishwanath,

Unless we maintain that 20 students per teacher ratio, we cannot get to the point where the relatively weak students get the desired positive attention!

Why isn't there any attention drawn to the fact that this ratio is not maintained and no effort is made to maintain this ratio by reducing the number of students in a particular discipline. Instead, intake continues to increase putting tremendous pressure on the teachers!

The average student strength in any B.E class in an engineering college is about 70.

A majority of students join the program because of peer pressure or pressure from parents. They are just not interested.

The reading habits of present day students have also changed dramatically. They are simultaneously browsing the net, listening to music, talking on mobile and sending / receiving SMS. They cannot concentrate. The students 'read' mathematics just like a story book instead of working with a pen and paper. Teachers are expected to motivate these students and see that they pass the examinations. A poor pass percentage will result in a black mark on the teacher.

But what happens to a few who are self motivated, want to learn more and are high achievers. They are left on their own. They constitute a very small number, say < 10-15 %.