VIEW: British schools' move towards scrapping homework is a progressive idea

Soon, at least some students in Britain will get a reprieve from cumbersome home assignments. A new school ��� Nottingham East Academy ��� has decided to scrap homework and replace it with an extra lesson after school hours in activities such as sport and aircraft-modelling. According to the head of the school, homework serves little purpose and only puts unnecessary pressure on parents and pupils.Further, he believes that children from illiterate or poorer backgrounds are worse off in a system that lays emphasis on homework.
The move is progressive. In most countries, homework has come to be an integral part of the schooling system. So much so that parents are suspicious when schools do away with homework. It is argued that students must be given after-hours tasks, which are assessed, so that their academic skills are honed. However, more often than not, such exercises are pointless.
When burdened with a huge load of homework young pupils, especially those in primary school, could be put off by the very idea of school. When the fun is taken out of the learning process, there���s very little one can do to ensure that students imbibe their lessons. If saddled with hours of home tasks, when are students supposed to find time to take part in other activities ��� games, socialising or spending leisure time with peers and parents for instance ��� which play an important role in developing their life skills?
In India, teachers often introduce students to a new lesson and expect them to complete the exercises at home. It shifts the onus of teaching on parents who might not always be equipped to shoulder the task. This results in children being sent to tutorials from a very young age. Learning then becomes a drab affair. It is, therefore, a good idea for schools to design innovative modules to replace homework. This could be in the form of extended in-school sessions or projects that can be done at home. Homework, as we know it now, has passed its sell-by date.
COUNTER VIEW: It won't work in India